This handout photo from the Guimba Police Station in Guimba, Nueva Ecija shows retrieval efforts at the site where a helicopter crashed on Feb. 1, 2025.MANILA — Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa confirmed Monday he was the last passenger of the chopper that crashed in Barangay San Miguel, Guimba, Nueva Ecija over the weekend.

Dela Rosa said the female pilot was alone when she was heading back after dropping him off and two security aides in Baguio City.

The Senator had an engagement in Baguio and then travelled by land to Binmaley, Pangasinan for the founding anniversary of the town.

He said he did not notice any engine problems and that the weather was good.

“Pinick-up nila ko doon sa Imus, Cavite. Hindi naman nagpatay ng makina doon. Umaandar naman ang makina. Saka very smooth man yung flight namin going to  Baguio. Napaka-smooth at masaya kami doon sa flight. Wala akong naramdaman na anything na unusual.” 

Dela Rosa personally knew the pilot whose father is a “very close friend” of his and of former President Rodrigo Duterte. 

Dela Rosa, Duterte and Senator Bong Go visited the wake Sunday night.

“It really breaks my heart kasi na-imagine ko kagabi nandoon ako sa wake niyakap yakap ko yung father atsaka mother ng piloto 25 yrs old very young, imagine ko rin kung how would I feel kapag yung anak ko rin na piloto na babae rin ay ganun ang mangyari  sa anak ko di ko maimagine napakahirap, mahirap tanggapin,” Dela Rosa said.

The pilot was found dead after the helicopter crashed in Sitio Arimung-mong on Saturday.

PLt. Col. George Calauad Jr., station commander of the Guimba Police Station, said the barangay captain alerted them about a light helicopter that had crashed into a swamp at a rice field.

Residents assisted authorities in retrieving the pilot’s body from the helicopter with tail number RP-C3424.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said an investigation was underway.