Gamboa in stable condition after chopper crash —PNP officials

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa is in stable condition at a hospital following Thursday morning's helicopter crash in Laguna, according to two ranking police officials.

"Nasa mabuti siyang lagay, maganda po ang kaniyang lagay," said Police Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan, the PNP deputy chief for administration, in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Cascolan said he was able to talk to Gamboa over the phone and was on his way to visit him at the hospital.

Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, chief of the PNP directorial staff, had the same information.

"Salamat sa Diyos naman at ang ating chief PNP ay nasa maayos na kalagayan," he said in a separate interview.

Gamboa's mistah at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, was among the first government officials who visited him at St. Luke's Medical Center - Global City in Taguig.

"So far okay naman siya, conscious siya, nag-usap kami. Kinuwento niya yung nangyari," Dela Rosa said of Gamboa in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

He added that the doctor said the result of the CT scan conducted on Gamboa was "so far, so good."

"Salamat sa Panginoon at okay yung kanyang CT scan. Meron lang siyang mga bruises sa braso at sugat, at medyo masakit lang yung kanyang shoulder," Dela Rosa said.

Gamboa was onboard a police chopper when it crashed in San Pedro, Laguna where he inspected the impounding area of the Highway Patrol Group. With him were three other police generals, two staff members and two pilots.

Eleazar said they are monitoring the condition of the others who he said were all alive but injured. —KBK, GMA News