After crash, PNP chief won’t ride helicopter for now

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa has ruled out riding helicopters for his future official functions days after he survived a crash that left two ranking police officials critically injured.

At his first news briefing after the accident, Gamboa said he will travel by land on his official engagements for now.

“By land but in due time I will ride a helicopter again,” he told reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Gamboa, wearing a sling on his right shoulder and still recovering from his injuries, reported for work yesterday. He presided over the flag-raising ceremony and attended mass before holding a news conference.

Upon the advice of his colleagues, Gamboa has postponed his official engagements for the rest of the week, including a command visit to the Ilocos region police. He will resume his command visits and other activities outside of Camp Crame next week. 

“They said I should rest but the scheduled command visits next week will push through,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

While the investigation on the cause of the crash is ongoing, Gamboa has ruled out sabotage, stressing that nobody in his right mind would create an accident scenario.

“Of course… Sabotage on purpose? I don’t believe so, I’m personally convinced. I was inside the helicopter,” he said.

He said the helicopter, made in Canada, was in good running condition and undergoing regular maintenance checkup before the accident.

The 55-year-old Gamboa was on his way to Camp Vicente Lim in Laguna in a Bell 429 twin-engine helicopter with Maj. Gens. Mariel Magaway and Jose Ma. Victor Ramos, Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac and four other police officers when the aircraft snagged on electrical cables before crashing and catching fire last Thursday.

Magaway and Ramos remain in critical condition at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center but their conditions are improving, Gamboa said.

“They’re OK but of course, they remain in the intensive care unit, and we know that when you’re in the ICU you are on close monitoring,” he said.

Banac was discharged on Saturday but needs to stay at home for a few days to recuperate.

Gamboa’s aide-de-camp, Capt. Keventh Gayramara, is also out of the hospital. The two pilots and a crewmember are still confined and recovering from their injuries.