The Palace is monitoring the developments following the crash of a helicopter carrying General Archie Francisco Gamboa, Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in San Pedro, Laguna this morning, March 5.
The Office of the President is glad that Police General Gamboa is safe and suffered no serious injuries from the accident.
Based on reports, riding with PNP Chief Gamboa during the crash were Maj. Gen. Jose Ma. Victor Ramos, Director of Comptrollership, and Maj. Gen. Mariel Magaway, Director of Intelligence, as well as Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP Spokesperson, Police Capt. Kevin Gayrama, aide-de-camp of the PNP Chief, and SMS Louie Estona. PNP Chief Col. Zalatar was the pilot while Lt. Col. Macawili was his co-pilot.
All of them are now being attended to by doctors and we are hoping — as we are praying — for their swift recovery.
Initial accounts reveal that the mishap was caused by the helicopter getting in contact with a high-tension wire due to poor visibility. With this, we ask the public to refrain from making speculations relative to the circumstances as we wait for the official results of the probe on the incident.
Salvador S. Panelo
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel
& Presidential Spokesperson
