Filipino police official among fatalities in Washington air collision
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A Filipino police colonel was among those who died in the Washington air collision, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
Remulla told GMA News Online Friday that the Filipino fatality is a member of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PNP Public Information Office acting chief Police Colonel Randulf Tuano in a press conference identified the victim as PNP Supply Management Division chief Police Colonel Pergentino Malabed, Jr. who was on official travel for a pre-delivery inspection of 2,675 units of all-purpose vests.
“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. His untimely passing is a profound loss to the PNP, where he served with honor, integrity, and dedication throughout his career,” the PNP said.
“We extend our deepest condolences to his bereaved family, loved ones, and colleagues. The PNP is committed to providing them with all necessary support during this difficult time,” it added.
Tuaño said that on January 22, Malabed with a non-commissioned officer and a non-uniformed personnel flew from the Philippines to India for the pre-delivery inspection of the vests.
Malabed took five of the vests and flew to the United States for further testing on January 27.
The police official went to Kansas for an exit call with the Police Attache in Washington D.C. Police Colonel Moises Villaceran.
“From India, papunta po siya ng Kansas, ng Washington para mag-courtesy call o exit call kay Colonel Moises Villaceran. (From India, he went to Kansas, Washington to make a courtesy call or exit call to Colonel Moises Villaceran),” Tuaño said.
Based on the unofficial report of the Office of the Police Attache in Washington D.C., Malabed was originally scheduled to return to the Philippines on February 2 but he decided to travel to South Carolina to visit his brother.
“However, PCOL MALABED decided to travel to South Carolina via Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to visit his brother,” the report said.
Malabed was identified through a passport found in his body. However, Tuaño said his wife is set to fly to the US to personally identify his remains.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it mourns the loss Malabed.
"We express our sincere sympathy and solidarity with the family of all those who died in this terrible tragedy," the department said in a statement.
Not yet clear
Meanwhile, U.S. authorities said that it was not yet clear why a regional jet and a U.S. Army helicopter collided at a Washington airport, killing 67 people in the deadliest U.S. air disaster in more than 20 years.
Investigators recovered the so-called black boxes from the plane, an American Airlines Bombardier jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, which collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter and crashed into the Potomac River as it prepared to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night.
No one survived. Names of all the victims have not been released, but they included promising young figure skaters and people from Kansas, where the flight originated.
—with reports from Reuters/ VAL/AOL, GMA Integrated News