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2 PNP generals in critical condition after Laguna chopper crash


Two police generals who were with Philippine National Police chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa when their helicopter crashed in Laguna on Thursday morning are in critical condition.

Police Major General Benigno Durana Jr., chief of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations, identified the two as PNP Director for Intelligence Police Major General Mariel Magaway and Director for Comptrollership Police Major General Jose Maria Ramos.

"Si General Magaway and General Ramos ay nasa critical condition," he said at a press conference. "They are being well-taken cared of by doctors in Laguna. They will be mobilized sa pinakamalapit na ospital o dito sa Maynila."

Police Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan said Gamboa, who was brought to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig past 10 a.m., is in stable condition.

Citing information from the physician, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who visited Gamboa at the hospital, said the result of the CT scan conducted on the PNP chief was “so far, so good.”

“Conscious naman siya... knockout lang talaga siya. Ang results ng CT scan niya ay okay, so far” Dela Rosa told reporters.

Dela Rosa also said Gamboa, his mistah or classmate at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), sustained bruises as a result of the accident.

Another ranking police official in the chopper, PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac, is also already in good condition.

The PNP officials were set to inspect a lateral compound of the PNP Highway Patrol Group in Laguna when the incident happened in San Pedro town.

The chopper — a two-year-old Bell 429 — reportedly hit a high tension wire upon lift-off due to poor visibility caused by thick dust, causing it to crash.  

Apart from the four police generals, two staff members and two pilots were also onboard the helicopter. —KBK, GMA News

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