To recall, 47 military personnel and three civilians died when the military transport plane crashed in Sitio Amman, Barangay Bangkal in Patikul town and burst into flames in one of the country’s worst military air disasters. "We sympathize with them… that's the very least ARTA can do to ensure that they are not red tape in the processing of their survivorship benefits," ARTA Director-General Jeremiah Belgica said. The IATF, which the former is leading, was formed in May to help facilitate the processing of the benefits of the casualties of uniformed personnel. The IATF also aims to address even other pending claims of uniformed personnel pursuant to the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 and Republic Act No. “Retired uniformed personnel can now contact us — even the police, military, Bureau of Fire, Coast Guard, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

Source: Philippine Star July 13, 2021 10:07 UTC