The flight took off on a bad note as heavy rains and poor visibility forced the presidential aerial convoy to make an emergency landing along the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTex) and proceed to travel by land to Tarlac where he visited flood victims at an evacuation center in Paniqui town.
Air Force spokesman Col. Miguel Ernesto Okol said the Bell 412, boarded by President Aquino, took a safety landing around 9:03 a.m. at the Hacienda Luisita
access road of the SCTEx in Tarlac City.
“They did not have any emergency. As per safety in marginal weather, they have designated areas to set down the chopper when there’s marginal weather,” he added.
According to Okol, the presidential helicopter subsequently flew to the Air Force Tactical Operations Group-3 (TOG-3) facility at Camp Gen. Servillano Aquino also in Tarlac City after the weather was clear.
“There is nothing wrong with the aircraft, it’s just that by procedure when you encounter (bad) weather, you have to land for safety (when) the weather is clear, you can take off again,” Okol said.
He added the presidential aerial convoy was composed of two helicopters.
Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office chief Ricky Carandang, in a text message sent to Malacañang reporters, confirmed the incident.
Carandang’s message, which was coursed through the Palace-based Communications office staff, said the chopper occupied one lane of the expressway but did not cause traffic congestion.
Not one of those on board the helicopter was hurt in the incident, it was also learned.
“Confirming the President’s party had to make an unscheduled landing on SCTEX  after visibility in the choppers deteriorated. All are safe,” Carandang said.
Reports reaching the Palace claimed that from San Miguel town, the President and his companions that include Carandang, Secretaries Jose Rene Almendras (Energy), Dinky Soliman (Social Welfare and Development), Rogelio Singson (Public Works and Highways), Jesse Robredo (Interior and Local Government), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority head Joel Villanueva were transferred to several vehicles that took them for a land travel to the Aquino’s first stop in Capas, Tarlac.
Also with Aquino on board the chopper were former party list representative and defeated senatorial bet Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel and Rep. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara — both perceived as the administration’s senatorial bets for next year’s mid-term elections.
The President, meanwhile, picked Pampanga for his last stop where he stayed the longest while embarking on a long list of promises banking on the fulfillment from businessmen, whom the Chief Executive claimed to have volunteered to extend help.
Aquino arrived in San Fernando, Pampanga, where he and his team led the distribution of relief assistance to residents affected by massive flooding in a province known as the bailiwick of his political foe, former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Aquino urged displaced Kapampangans never to lose hope even as he claimed that the government — and the private sector, would continue to extend help to the flood victims, regardless of whether they’re from Tarlac or from Pampanga.
“More countrymen have made their commitment to continue sending help so stop worrying about being neglected. We will help for as long as it is required” Aquino was quoted as saying to part of the town-based 16,000 displaced families seeking refuge at the Sto. Niño Elementary School in San Fernando.
Among the private businesses whom the President has been mentioning as “voluntarily supporting his relief operations” include San Miguel Corp. and Yokohama Tire Philippines. He also hinted at more foreign donors to also help the victims in the coming days.
While Aquino promised to act on a flood control system in Pampanga, he, however, appealed for patience over the huge infrastructure project because it would still take time to complete.