PNP sets no timetable on chopper crash in San Pedro, Laguna

March 6, 2020

PNP chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa survived the crash while five were injured.  The condition of two generals who remains unstable.

In an interview with reporters  at the Laperal Compound, Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, the PNP deputy chief for operations, said this is the first time it had this incident.

“We don’t have timetable but the soonest possible time that we can finish (the investigation) is better. Remember we need a thorough investigation. This is not like our normal case that we are chasing a murderer... if we can finish this earlier good but our SITG (special investigation task group) will conduct a thorough investigation,” Eleazar said.

As the officer-in-charge of the SITG “Bell 429”, Eleazar said they will meet with the Calabarzon police, who conducted an initial investigation, and with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

“The SITG will be briefed on the initial investigation conducted by local investigators and from there that will be our basis,” Eleazar said.

“We’ll be needing the advice of concerned agencies like CAAP and (Philippine) Air Force Safety Unit... This is the first time the PNP will be conducting an aircraft crash investigation that’s why we really need the help of concerned agencies even though we have seasoned investigators coming from CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) and Avsegroup (Aviation Security Group) but this is a different case that we need to get the expertise of other concerned agencies,” he said.

Eleazar said they will invite people who are involved in the incident, including victims, responders and everyone on the ground.

Eleazar said they will check the standard operating procedure (SOP) as this might be the reason why the helicopter crashed.

“So there is a need for a thorough review... and based on the initial investigation, we can review and improve our SOP so that the trust of our senior officers and other members of the PNP that will utilize utilizing our air assets will return,” Eleazar said.

The pieces of the helicopter will be brought to PNP’s hangar for investigators to study.

Eleazar said their normal police operations will not be affected by this incident.

“We don’t have choppers before... and right now, we are just establishing the use of this. In fact, the chief PNP gave some of the units to NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) for their sky patrol, surveillance and monitoring... so I think there will be no affected (operations) because this fleet is not fully utilize as we are still conducting training for our pilots,” he added.

Eleazar reiterated that all remaining aircraft assets of the PNP will be grounded until the investigation is finished. Ella Dionisio/DMS