By Jeffrey Damicog
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is ready to help in looking into why the helicopter carrying Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Archie Gamboa and other police officials crashed in Laguna.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO /MANILA BULLETIN)
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra made the assurance following the incident that took place Thursday morning, March 5.
In the meantime, Guevarra said he will let the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) conduct the investigation of the crash.
“The NBI will not be involved, for now,” he told reporters.
“We'll let the AAIIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation and Inquiry Board) under the CAAP do the initial fact-finding,” he said.
On Thursday morning, Gamboa led the inspection of confiscated vehicles at the Laperal Compound in San Pedro, Laguna.
Following the inspection, Gamboa boarded a helicopter bound to Camp Vicente Lim also in Laguna to hold a command conference with the top officials of the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regional police.
However, the chopper crashed after accidentally hitting a high tension wire.
Aside from Gamboa, those on board the chopper were Maj. Gen. Mariel Magaway, head of the Directorate for Intelligence; Maj. Gen. Jose Ma. Victor Ramos, head of the Directorate for Comptrollership; Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesman; Gamboa’s aide de camp Capt. Kevin Gayrama; pilot Lt. Col. Ruel Salazar; co-pilot Lt. Col. Rico Macawili; and chopper crew Senior Master Sgt. Louie Estona.