Palace praying for swift recovery of PNP chief, other chopper crash survivors

By: Darryl John Esguerra - 5 years ago

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang is praying for the quick recovery of Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa and seven others after their chopper crashed in San Pedro, Laguna on Thursday morning.

“I pray for the immediate recovery of PNP Chief Dir. Gen. Archie Gamboa and the rest of the passengers rescued from the chopper,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

In a separate statement, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Office of the President is glad that Gamboa is safe and suffered no serious injuries.

“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,” Panelo said.

Gamboa was on board the helicopter with PNP Spokesperson B/Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP comptrollership chief M/Gen. Jovic Ramos, PNP intelligence director M/Gen. Mariel Magaway, Gamboa’s aide, two pilots, and one helicopter technician when the aircraft crashed minutes after it lifted off past 8 a.m.

Magaway and Ramos were last listed in critical condition.

The helicopter was on its way to Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna.All the passengers survived the crash and were rushed to a local hospital.

Gamboa was transferred from a Laguna hospital to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

GSG