(UPDATED) Two police generals who were with Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Archie Gamboa on board a helicopter that crashed in Laguna on Thursday morning are in critical condition, an official said.
Major General Mariel Magaway, director for intelligence, and Major General Jose Maria Victor “Jovic” Ramos, director for comptrollership, remained unconscious as of Thursday noon, March 5, 2020, according to PNP deputy chief for administration Camilo Cascolan.
Ramos and Magaway were first brought to Unihealth Southwoods Hospital and Medical Center in Biñan, Laguna. Magaway was transferred to Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila after his condition stabilized, although he remained unconscious. Ramos is still in Unihealth.
Elvis Bedia, president of Unihealth, said in an interview that Ramos sustained severe injuries, including Le Fort fractures, or fracture of the midface that involve separation of all or a portion of the midface from the skull base.
Bedia said Ramos would have to undergo surgery. He also needs blood transfusion.
"Yung blood pressure niya bumaba (to) 60/40 pero okay na ulit kasi ngayon nasa 110/60 na at yung heart rate nya stable na din," Bedia said.
(His blood pressure went down to 60/40. But it has since gone up to 110/60. His heart rate is also stable.)
"Nung dumating po nasa comatose Glasgow 3 po sila kung tawagin namin. Mababa po yun kung sa normal na pag-iisip. Yun po ay sa kadahilanang naalog ng husto ang utak na tawag po namin ay axonal injury or na-diffuse (ang utak). Maaari pong walang actual na bleeding pero yun pong ulo dahil naalog ng husto ang utak ay nag-short circuit na rin dahil sa sobrang kalog. Wala na syang malay ngayon," Bedia added.
He was referring to the Glasgow Coma Scale, a scoring system used to describe the level of consciousness in a person following a traumatic brain injury. Diffuse axonal injury, on the other hand, is a type of traumatic brain injury that happens when the brain rapidly shifts inside the skull.
The crash happened around 7 a.m. Thursday when the helicopter, a brand new Bell helicopter, hit a high tension wire shortly after takeoff at the Laperal Compound in San Pedro, Laguna.
Also on board the helicopter aside from Gamboa, Magaway and Ramos were Brigadier General Bernard Banac, spokesperson; Gamboa’s aide-de-camp Captain Kevin Gayrama; pilot Lieutenant Colonel Ruel Zalatar; co-pilot Lt. Col. Rico Macawili; and crew Senior Master Sergeant Luis Estona.
The group was in San Pedro to inspect the impounding area of the Highway Patrol Group and were on their way to Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba for a command visit.
Gamboa, who sustained minor injuries as he was seated on the right side of the helicopter, was transferred to the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, arriving there at 10:15 a.m. Thursday.
Banac, Gayrama and the pilots and crew were also brought to St. Luke’s with minor injuries. (SunStar Philippines)