Widow mourns PAF pilot from Cagayan killed in midair collision

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — The death of her husband, 1st Lt. Angeleo Adrian Peñaflor, in a midair collision involving two Philippine Air Force (PAF) trainer aircraft has left Bernadette feeling as though she has lost a part of her soul.

“When you take away my greatest love, you might as well take my soul with you,” Bernadette wrote in a social media post on Saturday.

“They say it’s all part and parcel of the job. But no one ever prepares you for the pain of losing the person who means the world to you,” she added.

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READ: 4 PAF pilots killed in Batangas crash

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Peñaflor, who hailed from Iguig, Cagayan, was one of four PAF pilots killed when two SF-260 trainer aircraft collided over Fernando Air Base in Lipa City, Batangas, on Friday, Oct. 23.

Bernadette thanked her husband for everything and shared how deeply she already missed him, affectionately calling him her “batang laki.”

“It hurts so much. Visit me later, okay? I’ll be waiting for you,” she wrote.

She also announced the schedule of her husband’s wake, which was set to be held at the Fernando Air Base mortuary from Oct. 24 to 26 and at Ortiz Memorial Chapel in Tuguegarao City from Oct. 27 to 30.

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“Hanggang sa muli, my love. You will forever be my greatest love, my HERO, and a part of my soul,” Bernadette said.

Peñaflor’s death also drew tributes from the Cagayan State University (CSU) community, which remembered him as an outstanding alumnus of its College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS).

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In a statement, the college said Peñaflor graduated as class valedictorian and magna cum laude in the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology program in 2018.

The CICS Student Council extended its condolences and prayers to his family, friends, loved ones and colleagues, expressing solidarity with them in their grief.

The council also honored Peñaflor’s contributions to the university and his service to the country.

“You will forever be remembered and honored by your CICS family,” the statement said.

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Following the Oct. 23 collision, the PAF temporarily grounded its SF-260 aircraft fleet while an investigation into the incident was underway. /mcm