The helicopter carrying Nacionalista Party (NP) vice presidential candidate Senator Loren Legarda made an emergency landing in Sariaya, Quezon Sunday morning after encountering heavy rain and zero-visibility in the area.

Legarda ordered Captain Joseph Espiritu to land the chopper upon sensing danger for her group after hovering Sariaya area for several minutes with zero-visibility.

She was joined in the aircraft by Lanie Ediza, her executive assistant; Grace Cruz, her police aide; a certain Flight Engineer Katigbak; and DZRH reporter Florante Rosales.

The pilot landed the chopper around 12:30 p.m. at a vacant lot in Avalon Subdivision in Barangay Sto. Cristo.

“We were battered by the heavy rains and strong winds. It’s fortunate we found the spot,” said Legarda, who had started praying the rosary given to her by healing priest, Fr. Fernando Suarez.

“Thank God that He spared us from danger and I thank the people here in Barangay Sto. Cristo, who came to our rescue. Inaamin ko na nagkaroon ako ng kaba (I admit I was nervous),” she said.

Upon landing, several subdivision residents rushed to the area, thinking the helicopter had crashed.

Legarda and her staff were all wet as they drove towards the barangay chairman’s house, where they had the chance to change into dry clothes.

One of the passengers said they were worried and that the senator was decisive enough to point out an area where they could land safely.

Legarda and her staff left Manila to for a campaign sortie scheduled in Lucena City and, at the same time, attend the Rockatropa-Wowee concert set for last night.

The program was prepared by the NP, led by Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.