SWIRLING dust clouds that reduced visibility caused the Philippine National Police chopper, a white Bell 429, carrying the PNP chief and ranking officers to crash on takeoff in Laguna.
The ill-fated chopper carrying Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, PNP Chief and seven other high-ranking PNP officers hit a power cable on takeoff and crashed on a barangay road.
An amateur video taken by Renald Taliga who was at the site during the visit of the PNP officers showed the company of Gen. Gamboa before they took off in the chopper amid thick dust clouds that blanketed the area. The chopper apparently landed in an area covered with fine sediment.
The chopper lifted very low on takeoff and apparently went straight to the power cable which caused it to spiral down and crashed on its left side in a barangay road.
Gamboa flashed a thumbs-up and said, “I’m OK” after he was pulled out of the wreckage. He was immediately taken to a hospital in Manila.
PNP Intelligence Director, Maj. Gen. Mariel Magaway and Director for Comptrollership, Maj. Gen. Jose Ma. Victor Ramos, who were taken in a Laguna hospital were reportedly in critical condition. The rest are in stable condition.
The PNP has recently acquired two more helicopters and other equipment worth some PHP2.88 billion to further boost its firepower and mobility assets. The acquisition is part of the PNP modernization.
Topping the list of the new assets are two single-engine turbine helicopters worth PHP225 million.
Three more helicopters are being eyed before Gamboa’s term ends.
“We have seven as of now. Hopefully, before I retire, the last three will be coming up so we will leave the PNP with 10 (helicopters),” he said.
Other newly-acquired assets include 37 units of medium troop carriers — worth PHP3.1 million each — and 12 pickups worth PHP1.6 million each.
The trucks would be utilized by the Special Action Force, Gamboa said.
Also procured were 501 units of combat helmets worth PHP32 million; firearms such as light machine gun, basic assault rifle, pistol, and magazines; and bomb equipment such as explosive ordnance division robot, undershirt vest, night vision goggles, ballistic eyewear, handheld radio, among others.