Billionaire’s son dies in chopper crash

CRASH FATALITY Funeral parlor workers bring the body of Felicisimo Taborlupa Jr., pilot of the helicopter that crashed on Mount Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas province, to Martin Marasigan Memorial Hospital in Cuenca. (INQUIRER)

BATANGAS CITY—The billionaire owner of the Victoria Court chain of motels in Metro Manila, Archimedes “Archie” Rosario King, was killed on Sunday when a helicopter carrying him and six others crashed in bad weather near Mount Maculot in Cuenca, Batangas province.

The pilot, Felicisimo Esteban Taborlupa Jr., also died in the crash.

Six passengers, including King’s wife, Angeles, or Lingling, were injured and taken to an area hospital in Cuenca but later moved to St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City in Taguig City, according to Senior Insp. Joel Laraya, Cuenca town police chief.

Besides the Kings and the pilot, those aboard the helicopter were Inquirer Lifestyle columnist Anton San Diego, bag designer Tina Maristela-Ocampo and her husband, retail king Ricco Ocampo, and business couple Christopher and Patricia Chilip.

Christopher Chilip is the head of Armstrong Enterprises Corp., importer and distributor of Dunlop tires in the Philippines, while his wife runs motorcar insurance company Standard Insurance.

The news of King’s death came as a shock to the business and lifestyle communities.

King, 62, was CEO of the thriving Victoria Court chain, which his father Angelo built, calling it Anito Lodge. He injected into the business his progressive management style and worked with a team of professionals.

King pioneered the boutique-hotel concept in the Philippines with La Corona hotels under the Best Western group.

He also headed his father’s civic endeavor, Angelo King Foundation, which has provided scholarships and livelihood centers around the country.

Returning to Manila

Beyond the hospitality industry, King became known for the fitness lifestyle he espoused and his social advocacy, such as Gawad Kalinga. He maintained many sports interests and flew his own aircraft.

Laraya said the helicopter, an Augusta 109E with Registry No. RP-C2726, was bound for Manila from the resort town of Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro province when it crashed at 12:45 p.m.

He said the crash might have been due to “poor visibility” caused by Tropical Storm “Egay” (international name: Linfa).

“We’re still experiencing heavy rains here,” Laraya said in a phone interview.

Police investigators were still trying to determine if the helicopter was given clearance to fly, he added.

One of the survivors, who refused to be named, said the group left Puerto Galera around 10 a.m.

The source said King was worried about the deteriorating weather, prompting the pilot to go for an opening toward Batangas so the group could land safely in Tagaytay.

But it suddenly became foggy, the source said, and the helicopter hit a tree and spun out of control.

The helicopter crashed belly up, killing the pilot outright.

The source said King was pinned in the cockpit but was still alive.

Site difficult to reach

It took some time before the hotelier was removed from the wreckage, the source said.

King died in the hospital, the source said.

According to Laraya, the crash site was just 2.5 kilometers from the village center of Pinagkaisahan, but few residents saw what happened, as the area was difficult to reach during bad weather.

In good weather, getting to the site requires an uphill climb of at least 30 minutes, he said.

Laraya said some villagers who saw the crash immediately informed the village chief who, in turn, called the town police station for help.

He said he and his men were assisted by volunteers from the village and local Red Cross workers in removing the victims from the crash site.

The helicopter was a total wreck, he said.

As of 5 p.m., the wreckage was still at the crash site, secured by members of the municipal police station and the Philippine National Police-Batangas Provincial Public Safety Company.