Press Statement of Police Major General Benigno Durana Jr.

The Director for Police Community Relations/ Acting PNP Spokesperson

PNP Chief, Police General Archie Francisco F Gamboa and all seven other passengers and crew of the ill-fated police helicopter that crashed in San Pedro, Laguna this morning are safe and currently undergoing treatment for minor injuries in different private hospitals.

We are thankful to the first responders and private citizens who assisted in the rescue and evacuation of the Chief PNP and his party, as well as to everyone who expressed well wishes and prayed for the safety of all the passengers.

The PNP joins the public in prayer for their complete recovery. We also request netizens to refrain from posting images of the injured passengers out of respect for their privacy, and discourage them from making speculations and passing-on unverified information.

The PNP Bell 429 helicopter with registry number RP-3086, piloted by PLTC Zalatar and PLTC Macawili crash-landed upon take-off at the vicinity of Laperal Compound in Barangay San Antonio, San Pedro, Laguna after an

accidental contact with overhead power lines.

Aboard the aircraft were:

1. PGEN Archie Francisco F Gamboa, Chief, PNP;

2. PMGEN Mariel Magaway, TDI;

3. PMGEN Jose Maria de Ramos, TDC;

4. PBGEN Bernard Banac, C, PIO;

5. PLTCOL Zalatar, pilot;

6. PLTCOL Macawili, co-pilot,

7. PSMS Estona, and

8. PCAPT Gayramara, Aide de Camp of C, PNP

Meantime, the PNP Command Group and Quad Staff has convened and immediately ordered the temporary grounding of the entire PNP fleet of rotary-wing aircraft as a standard procedure while an investigation is underway.

The PNP maintains a fleet of Airbus H-125, Bell-429, and Robinson R-44 multi-role police helicopters. (PNP-PIO)