Lacson on PNP chopper crash: Let's not pre-judge Carlos but he has to explain to the public

STA. CRUZ, Laguna — Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday said Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Dionardo Carlos should not be “pre-judged” regarding the crash of the state-owned helicopter that was supposed to pick him up from Balesin, Quezon.

However, Carlos should explain the accident to the public, Lacson said.

“That's one issue that chief PNP Carlos should explain dahil [because] unfortunately nag-crash ‘yung helicopter na dapat susundo sa kanya sa isang resort [the helicopter that was supposed to pick him up crashed],” Lacson, a former PNP chief, said.

“Let’s not prejudge chief PNP Carlos. ‘Di natin alam kung ano ang talagang… baka may official function s’ya doon. Ngayon, kung personal ‘yun, medyo may problema. So I hope the PNP can clarify that particular issue,” he added.

(We don’t know yet if he was there for an official function. But if he was there for personal affairs, then there might be a problem.)

The lawmaker also pointed out the need for the government to procure high quality police and military equipment.

“Dahil naglalaan tayo ng pongdong malaki hindi lang sa PNP pati sa [Armed Forces of the Philippines], doon sa kanilang enhancement program… So kailangan talaga pag namimili ng gamit… tingnang mabuti ang kalidad,” he said.

(We are allocating huge funds for the enhancement program of the PNP and the AFP, that’s why we need to check the quality of the equipment that we procure.)

“Dahil after all, hindi lang equipment ang nawawala kung hindi buhay ng mga pulis natin nalalagay sa alanganin,” he added.

(Because after all, it is not only the equipment, but also the lives of our policemen are at risk.)

The presidential candidate then vowed that his administration won't allow using government equipment for personal affairs.

“Paulit-ulit kami [sa] leadership by example. There is no substitute to it. It is second to none,” he said.

(We’ve been reiterating our stance on leadership by example. There is no substitute to it. It is second to none.)

Lacson pointed out that chiefs of PNP should not use government equipment for personal affairs.

According to Raffy Tima's report on 24 Oras on Monday, the H-125 Airbus helicopter took off from the Manila Domestic Airport in Pasay City at 6:17 a.m. for Balesin, Quezon, where Carlos had been staying with his family.

The helicopter was later declared missing. The crash site was located past 8 a.m. The PNP said that the flight was considered an administrative mission flight.

"Si Chief PNP nasa Quezon nung weekend for some private time with him family," PNP spokesperson Police Lieutenant Colonel Jean Fajardo had said.

It took rescuers several hours to reach the mountainous area where the chopper crashed, and several more hours to bring the victims down to be flown to the hospital.

The pilot and co-pilot, Police Lieutenant Colonels Dexter Vitug and Michael Melloria, were brought to Claro M. Recto Hospital in Infanta, Quezon, while crewman Police Patrolman Allen Noel Ona was identified as the lone fatality.

The injured were later flown to Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The PNP has grounded its four Airbus H-125 helicopters following the incident. —KBK, GMA News