(UPDATED) PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa and seven others, including three other high-ranking PNP officials, were hurt in a helicopter crash on Thursday morning, March 5, in San Pedro, Laguna.
With Gamboa on board the helicopter were Major General Mariel Magaway, director for Intelligence; Major General Jose Maria “Jovic” Ramos, director for comptrollership; Brigadier General Bernard Banac, spokesperson; aide-de-camp Captain Gayrama; pilot Lieutenant Colonel Zalatar; co-pilot Lt. Col. Macawili; and crew Senior Master Sergeant Estona.
They were in San Pedro, Laguna to visit the impounding area of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and were headed towards Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba, Laguna when the helicopter hit a high tension wire minutes after takeoff and crashed.
All were conscious when they were pulled out of the helicopter and brought to two hospitals in San Pedro, Laguna.
HPG Special Operations Division Chief Rannie Estilles, who was among the first responders at the scene, said Gamboa was the first to be pulled out of the helicopter.
He was seated on the right side of the eight-seater Bell helicopter.
Captain Estilles said the left portion of the chopper slammed to the ground and a portion burst into flames. A fire truck on standby immediately controlled the fire. (SunStar Philippines)