Manila chopper with Arroyo aides crashes, no survivors

MANILA (Reuters) - A helicopter ferrying aides of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has crashed and there were no survivors among the eight passengers and crew, officials said on Wednesday.

Rescue teams in the Philippines found the wreckage of the helicopter on Wednesday, almost 24 hours after it was reported missing near the Banawe rice terraces in the north of the country.

The wreckage was found by a team of police officers and civilian volunteers in mountainous jungles about three hours hike from the nearest inhabitation, said Teodoro Baguilat, governor of the province of Ifugao.

"We have found the wreckage," Baguilat told reporters. He said the bodies of the passengers and crew were found in and around the helicopter.

Among the passengers were Brigadier-General Carlos Clet, the president's senior military aide; Press Undersecretary Jose Capadocia; the president's appointments secretary; and two other palace officials.

Two pilots and another crew member were also on board.

The helicopter left Baguio City late on Tuesday for a short flight to Banawe to inspect a road project that Arroyo was due to visit on Wednesday.

Arroyo canceled her trip as the military mobilized its resources to locate the missing helicopter.

(Reporting by Manny Mogato; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Sanjeev Miglani)

Terra/Reuters