Police general hurt in Laguna chopper crash discharged from hospital

Police Major General Mariel Magaway, one of the police officials seriously hurt in the March chopper crash in San Pedro City, Laguna, has been discharged from hospital, according to Philippine National Police Deputy Chief for Administration Police Lieutenant General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan on Friday.

According to Cascolan, Magaway, who was confined at the Asian Hospital Medical Center, can already speak, noting that his memory is good. He added that Magaway will still continue his therapy.

"Kahapon ng umaga dumating siya ng bahay, sinalubong namin. Mga two weeks lang siguro 'yan ng therapy niya okay na siya na lahat kumpleto na," Cascolan told reporters.

"Nagsasalita siya, okay siya. Siyempre dahil apat na buwan siyang nakahiga, inaalalayan pa lang na maglakad but in two weeks therapy kuhang-kuha niya 'yan," he added.

Former PNP Director for Intelligence Police Maj. Gen. Mariel Magaway, nakalabas na ng Asian Hospital kahapon matapos masangkot sa helicopter crash noong March 2020. I @dzbb @gmanews pic.twitter.com/kIpsjGHScJ

— Mark Makalalad (@MMakalalad) May 22, 2020

Cascolan said the PNP and physicians will still evaluate if Magaway can still return to police service.

Meanwhile, Cascolan said Police Major General Jose Maria Ramos, the other police official who was seriously injured from the accident, remains in "deep coma."

On March 5, a chopper — a two-year-old Bell 429 — hit a high tension wire upon lift-off due to poor visibility caused by thick dust, causing it to crash in San Pedro City.

The PNP officials on board the aircraft were set to inspect a lateral compound of the PNP Highway Patrol Group when the accident happened.

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa and PNP spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac were also hurt in the accident. Both have since gone back to duty. —KBK, GMA News