Gamboa rules out sabotage in chopper crash

March 9, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday ruled out the possibility of sabotage after the helicopter they were riding crashed in San Pedro, Laguna last week.

“I don't believe so. For me personally, I’m convinced (it’s an accident) since I’m inside the helicopter… That's my own personal opinion but let's wait for the results of the SITG (special investigation task group) findings,” said Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said a press briefing in Camp Crame.

“Nobody in his right mind even what kind of interest he has in his mind would do that. So that's why the general term is accident only, it was not intentionally done by those involved even on (the) ground preparation, on the chopper crew themselves, even the passengers. I strongly believe there is no sabotage,” he added.

Gamboa was discharged from a hospital on Friday and appeared in Monday's flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame wearing a sling on his right arm, three days after the helicopter mishap.

The PNP chief said he will not give any timeline on the investigation as he does not want to rush the SITG “Bell 429”.

“I do not want to rush things because I think this is the first time that- not really the first time. I think the first one as far as I can remember is the helicopter incident somewhere in Benguet involving R-44 but probably this incident (in Laguna) is the worst. That’s why I don’t want to give them deadline and as a matter of fact, it will involve a lot of government agencies. We tapped the Philippine Air Force, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, and probably Bell so I do not want give a deadline for this investigation by the SITG,” Gamboa said.

Now that all PNP’s air assets are grounded, Gamboa said this will have an effect on his command visits this week but he said he will push through his schedule via land travel

Asked about the change in their seating position during the flight, Gamboa said the pilot just recommended he sits on the right side because of the sun.

“When the Chief PNP rides the chopper, he has the preferred seat but you know (that t is not) the only reason. Because that part is hot, that’s it. So that's why whenever I ride a chopper I will ask where should I sit, especially on long flights. Then they will tell me where but the primary consideration is which part is less hotter, especially on long flights,” he explained.

Based on the narration of his aide, Gamboa is seated on the right side. The aide he was seated in the middle while Police Major General Mariel Magaway, PNP director for intelligence was on his left.

Magaway remains unconscious, Gamboa said.

Allegedly, Gamboa should be the one seated on the left  where Magaway was sitting.

Gamboa said the incident gave him an idea on where should a PNP chief seat on helicopter rides.

“But I will give that input to the SITG and will form part of the lessons learned on this incident,” he said.

“The SITG haven't got any official statement yet but my instruction to SITG is to get all the statements of all the passengers inside and even those who are outside, people from (Police Regional Office) 4A (Calabarzon), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), because although it's quite painful that it has to pass this way. On the brighter side,  we will be learning a lot of lessons here and our end objective is to not have this kind of incident in the future,” he said.

Gamboa assured the public there is no anomaly in buying the helicopter as he was the head of Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) when it was procured.

“I am assuring the public that it underwent regular bidding. I was the chairman of the BAC when we conducted the first bidding for the helicopter so it's way aboveboard and these are brand new helicopters. It came all the way from Canada. We had a pre-delivery inspection there, it was tested in Canada before it was finally transported here and another inspection was conducted here and it's been flying for more than two years now,” he said.

Gamboa, with other police officials, including three police generals, met an accident after their helicopter hit a high tension wire while taking off due to  dusts that allegedly caused “zero visibility” in the Laperal compound where they inspected the HPG's new impounding area.

They are supposed to go to Camp General Vicente Lim, headquarters of Calabarzon regional police for a command visit.

Gamboa said all debris have been cleared from the crash site and are secured at the PNP hangar where it will underwent examination by experts commissioned by the SITG, chaired by PNP deputy chief for operations, Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar. Ella Dionisio/DMS