Police general in helicopter crash dies

POLICE Major General Jose Maria Ramos, one of the police generals on board a helicopter that crashed in March 2020, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Colonel Ysmael Yu confirmed.

“The PNP is saddened by this news, in behalf of the chief PNP General (Camilo) Cascolan, the Philippine National Police extends its condolences to the family and to PMA (Philippine Military Academy) Sinagtala Class of 1986,” he said in a statement.

A report reaching Camp Crame said Ramos expired at 12:07 a.m. of October 20, 2020.

His remains will be cremated and will be brought to the Eternal Gardens in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Ramos and three other PNP officials, including then chief Archie Gamboa, were on board a two-year old twin-engine Bell 429 when it crashed shortly after takeoff at around 7 a.m. on March 5, 2020.

They were headed to the Camp Vicente Lim in Calamba for a command visit.

Ramos, then the director of comptrollership, had been in coma since then.

Major General Mariel Magaway, intelligence director, was also severely injured but has recovered. He is now undergoing physical therapy.

Also on board the helicopter were then PNP spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac, PNP chief’s aide-de-camp Captain Kevin Gayramara, two pilots and a crew. They were slightly injured.

The helicopter crash landed after accidentally hitting a high tension wire minutes after taking off in the Laperal Compound in San Pedro, Laguna. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)