Police general who survived March 5 chopper crash passes away

March 6 2020
PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Pol. Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar conducts an ocular inspection of the Bell 429 helicopter that crashed in San Pedro, Laguna on March 5, that injured then PNP Chief Archie Gamboa and other police officials.
INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Police Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Ramos, who was among the high-ranking police officials who were injured during a helicopter crash in March, has passed away.

This was confirmed by Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Ysmael Yu to INQUIRER.net on Tuesday morning.

“The PNP is saddened by this news, on behalf of CPNP PGen Cascolan, the PNP extends its condolences to the family and to PMA Sinagtala Class of 1986,” Yu said in a text message.

“Kagabi siya pumanaw [He passed away last night],” he added.

Ramos remained comatose following the chopper crash on March 5. He was among those who were in critical condition after the crash and had to be transferred to the intensive care unit.

Retired police general Archie Francisco Gamboa and former PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac were also among those injured in the incident.

JPV