Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Archie Gamboa today dismissed the notion that the chopper crash in San Pedro, Laguna that left him hospitalized last week was a case of sabotage.
Responding to questions from the reporters at a press conference at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Gamboa said the crash was just an accident.
“Was it sabotage, done on purpose? I don’t believe so. Personally [I’m] convinced that nobody in his right mind, even what kind of interest he has in mind, would do that,” Gamboa said in English and Filipino.
Read: Police chief Gamboa’s chopper crashes in Laguna, top cop hospitalized
“That’s why the general term we are using is ‘accident.’ That was not done on purpose by anyone, even [those involved] on chopper preparations, even the crew themselves, the passengers. I strongly believe no one was guilty of sabotage,” he said.
Gamboa was aboard a Bell 429 helicopter along with seven others when it crashed during takeoff after getting tangled in nearby electrical lines. Two of Gamboa’s co-passengers, Director for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Mariel Magaway and Director for Comptrollership Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Ramos, slipped into a coma as a result of the crash, and remain in critical condition at the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa City.
Five other passengers, including PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, are reportedly in stable condition.
Gamboa was in San Pedro for an event, and the chopper was supposed to fly him and his companions to the neighboring town of Calamba.
A task force has been established to investigate the crash, and Gamboa said it is possible that the PNP will also ask the manufacturer of the chopper to look into the incident.
