PNP mourns death of official in US aerial collision
The Philippine National Police (PNP) grieved the tragic loss of a ranking police official who was among those on board an American Airlines flight that collided midair with a United States (US) Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, Jan. 29.
The PNP identified the fatality as Police Colonel Pergentino N. Malabed, chief of the Supply Management Division, who was on official travel when the incident occurred.
“PCOL Malabed was on official travel at the time of the incident, fulfilling his duty as a dedicated police officer—committed to the service of protecting and securing both the PNP and the nation,” the PNP said in a statement.
“His untimely passing is a profound loss to the PNP, where he served with honor, integrity, and dedication throughout his career,” the police organization added.
Col. Randulf Tuano, chief of PNP public information office, said Malabed went to India on Jan. 22 with five non-commissioned officers and a non-uniformed personnel for a delivery inspection of 2,675 US-made vests that will be procured by the PNP.
The group then tested some of the vests and brought some to a company in the US where the vests would be manufactured for further testing. The testing was finished on Jan. 27, and the group was prepared to go home.
Malabed then paid an exit call on Col. Moises Villaceran, the Philippine police attache in Washington, but the tragedy happened. He was no longer accompanied by anyone from the PNP contingent.
According to an investigation by authorities, the American Eagles flight 5342 where Malabed and 63 other individuals were boarded collided midair with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter flown by three soldiers while attempting to land at the Reagan National Airport, before crashing into the Potomac River.
The American Eagles flight was flying from Wichita, Kansas to Washington, D.C.
The PNP extended its condolences to the bereaved family, loved ones, and colleagues of Malabed.
“The PNP is committed to providing them with all necessary support during this difficult time,” it said.
The PNP said that Malabed's wife, Rio, was scheduled to fly to US on Jan. 31 to retrieve the body of her husband.
"It's a standard operating procedure (SOP) by the United States government that a kin or the wife should identify the fatality because right now, the only identity used was the passport found in the cadaver," Tuano said.
"We are coordinating with the police attache there and initially, what was found was the e-ticket which was used as a basis that he was included in the flight manifest, and the passport," he added.
The PNP honored the dedication and sacrifice of Malabed as it noted that his contributions to the organization and the nation “will never be forgotten.”
As chief of the Supply Management Division, Malabed was in-charge of preparing the distribution list for the allocation of supplies and equipment to PNP units.
He also monitored and supervised the implementation of logistics policies about the flow of supply, distribution, management, and disposal of PNP equipment.
Malabed was a member of the PNP Academy (PNPA) Class 1998.