PNP awards medals to colonel who died in US mid-air collision

Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil awards the Medalya ng Katapatan sa Paglilingkod (Distinguished Service Medal) and Medalya ng Katangi-tanging Gawa to Supply Management Division chief Col. Pergentino Malabed at the PNP Mortuary in Camp Crame on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo from the PNP PIO)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) awarded two medals to its supply management chief who was killed in the tragic mid-air collision in the United States last month.

Col. Pergentino Malabed was on official travel, en route to an exit call with the Philippine police attaché in Washington, D.C., when his passenger jetliner collided with a US Army helicopter over the Potomac River in that city last January 29.

Malabed was awarded the Medalya ng Katapatan sa Paglilingkod (Distinguished Service Medal) and Medalya ng Katangi-tanging Gawa (Outstanding Achievement Medal) by PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil.

The PNP Public Information Office told INQUIRER.net in a Viber message that Malabed’s remains arrived in Camp Crame in Quezon City at around 10:35 a.m. on Friday.

READ: Body of PNP colonel killed in collision between plane, helicopter in US arrives

Malabed’s remains were brought back to the Philippines at around 7:45 a.m. on Friday and received foyer honors at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

READ: PNP to give honors to exec who died in US mid-air collision