Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 5) — The Philippine National Police deputy chief for administration, PLGen Camilo Cascolan, will be officer-in-charge as PGen Archie Gamboa recovers from a helicopter crash, a Cabinet official said Thursday.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año told CNN Philippines Thursday he appointed the PNP’s second-in-command to head the police force while Gamboa is on non-duty status.
Gamboa said in a video from his hospital bed that he intends to go back to work on Monday.
“Sa ating mga kababayan at lalo na sa ating kapulisan ako eh lumabas ngayon dito para ipakita sa inyong okay ako, hindi naman ako nasaktan,” he said in the video.
[Translation: To our countrymen and especially the police force, I am coming out with this to show to you that I’m okay, I wasn’t hurt.]
Gamboa, his spokesperson PLtCol Bernard Banac and four others have minor injuries after the newly-acquired ₱435-million Bell 429 chopper they were in got caught in a high-tension wire due to limited visibility and crashed in a residential area in Laguna province, south of Manila.
PNP comptrollership chief PMGen Joevic Ramos and PNP intelligence director PMGen Mariel Magaway are in critical condition, according to acting PNP spokesperson PMGen Bong Durana.
While Magaway and Ramos are still in the hospital, PBGen Ronnie Olay is taking charge of the PNP comptrollership and PBGen Jesus Cambay will head the police intelligence office. Durana, meanwhile, temporarily reprises his role as spokesperson as Banac recovers.
Top cop turned senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who visited Gamboa at the hospital, said the PNP chief seems fine, aside from a swollen right hand, minor injuries on the face and abrasions on the body. Banac is also mostly unscathed, except for some bruises on the face.
The PNP and the Interior Department are conducting investigations on the crash.
WATCH: PNP Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa's message to the public after the chopper crash incident in San Pedro, Laguna Thursday morning. 🎥 PNP PIO @cnnphilippines pic.twitter.com/4VGu9Rn9jm
— Gerg Cahiles (@gergcahiles) March 5, 2020
