Four Philippine National Police chief superintendents were injured after a Philippine Air Force helicopter crashed in Palawan on Tuesday afternoon.

Lt. Cheryl Tindog, Western Command spokesman, said Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, MIMAROPA regional director, is among the injured officers. The others are chief superintendents Camilo Cascolan, Amador Corpus and Nestor Bergonia.

She said the police officers were conducting aerial survey when the Sokol chopper” “experienced a mechanical problem and crash landed at vicinity of Sitio Sabang, Bgy Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa City.

Col. Antonio Francisco, Air Force spokesman, the chopper crashed landed at a rice field away from populated area some 28 nautical miles north of Puerto Princess City.

Francisco said the Air Force is investigating the incident and will determine if there is basis to ground the eight Sokol helicopters.

In 2014, a Sokol helicopter, which had some officers as passengers led by current AFP Chief of Staff Gen Ricardo Visaya, crashed in Marawi.

Superintendent Imelda Tolentino, public information officer of Task Group Palawan, said the survey was part of the security preparations for the ASEAN Chief Justices Conference in Palawan on November 10.

Tolentino said the Sokol helicopter that took off from Palawan Airbase around 2pm had 13 passengers, including nine policemen, two crews, a pilot and his co-pilot.

Tindog said the injured were brought to a hospital. Robina Asido/DMS