SAN MIGUEL, Philippines, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Heavy rains Friday forced a helicopter carrying Philippine President Benigno Aquino and six of his Cabinet members to make an emergency landing, officials said.
Cabinet member Ramon "Ricky" Carandang, secretary of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, told reporters there were no injuries when the aircraft landed on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway in San Miguel, Bulacan province, The Manila Times reported.
Carandang sent a text message saying the helicopter made the emergency stop shortly before 9 a.m. and resumed the trip to Paniqui, Tarlac province, after a short delay.
Aquino announced during the visit that he had convinced oil giants Shell Philippines and Petron Corp. to suspend increases in oil prices for the Philippines, which has been hit by repeated storms that have triggered massive flooding that has affected more than 2 million people and left at least 65 dead.
