In a devastating incident near Washington, D.C., a Filipino police officer, Colonel Pergentino Malabed, was among the 67 victims of a collision between a military helicopter and a commercial airliner, the Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Friday. Colonel Malabed, who served as the head of the Supply Management Division within the PNP’s Directorate for Logistics, was on an official trip when the accident happened on Wednesday night, local US time.
Colonel Malabed had traveled to India on January 22 with a team to evaluate vests intended for acquisition by the PNP. After testing six vests and leaving one in India, the team proceeded to the United States with the remaining five for further testing. From Kansas, Colonel Malabed journeyed alone to Washington, D.C., to meet with Colonel Moises Villaceran, the Philippine police attaché stationed there.
Tragically, while his two colleagues safely returned to Manila on January 27, Colonel Malabed was involved in the fatal crash. The PNP has reached out to his family and is working with the police attaché in Washington, D.C., to facilitate the repatriation of his remains.
Colonel Randulf Tuaño, PNP’s information chief, expressed the organization’s deep condolences and commitment to supporting Malabed’s family during this challenging period. He also paid tribute to Colonel Malabed’s dedication and service, emphasizing that his contributions to the PNP and the country would be remembered.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega confirmed that no other Filipinos or Filipino-Americans were reported among the passengers or crew of the doomed flight. The Department of Foreign Affairs awaits an official embassy report on the incident involving the Filipino officer.
The collision occurred as an American Airlines plane was nearing Ronald Reagan National Airport and a US Army helicopter inadvertently crossed its path. The plane carried 60 passengers and four crew members, while the helicopter had three soldiers on board.