A Philippine Air Force fighter bomber plane, F-50, went missing Tuesday morning, at the same time the military said they called an air strike to support its troops battling a band of 70 New People’s Army rebels in the Pantaron mountain range in Bukidnon.
Colonel Antonio Duluan Jr, commander of the Army 403rd Infantry Brigade said they have requested support from the Philippine Air Force to soften the defenses of the NPA rebels who have gathered near Cabanglasan town in the Pantaron range.
Duluan told reporters the air strikes happened between 1 am to 2 am, Tuesday.
Philippine Air Forces spokesperson Colonel Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the FA-50, with two pilots on board, went missing during a “tactical night operation” Tuesday early morning.
“Shortly after midnight on March 4, 2025, an F-50 fighter jet went missing during a tactical night operation,” Consuelo said.
Consuelo said the South Korean-made fighter bomber jet lost communication with the rest of the flights minutes before reaching the undisclosed target area.
Major General Michele Anayron, commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade said they cannot confirm whether the planes used in the air strikes in Cabanglasan were F-50 jets.
Residents in Cabanglasan posted videos on Facebook being roused from sleep by the sounds of planes thundering over their houses.
