LAST WEEK, a police helicopter crashed because it hit a power cable while taking off from a private residential lot in San Pedro City, Laguna.
Philippine National Police (PNP) top brass General Archie Gamboa who was on board suffered injuries together with Major General Mariel Magaway, police intelligence director; and Major General Jose Ma. Victor Ramos, police director for controllership. The latter two were reported in critical condition as of noon on Thursday last week when brought to a hospital in San Pedro City. Let us pray for them.
Others in the helicopter were Brigadier General Bernard Banac, Captain Kenneth Gayrama, General Gamboa’s aide, the pilot, the co-pilot and a member of the flight crew who were all thankfully not injured.
We wonder why four top-ranked police generals have taken a ride together in one helicopter. It is taking a great risk for the police organization and we believe they should not have done that.
Very few have experienced riding in helicopters because they are not usually being made available for passenger use. However, we noted that many top officials of government or private corporations acquire helicopters for use in official trips to facilitate travel and visit several outlying places on schedule.
When we were working as manager of a private commercial bank, we experienced helicopter rides on two occasions. The first one was while we were assigned in Roxas City, Capiz, and we went to meet the President of our bank from Manila who inspected the site of a new branch that we proposed to open in Kalibo, Aklan.
He was using a helicopter and from Kalibo he asked us to hitch a ride with him to Victorias, Negros Occidental where he was scheduled next to attend a business meeting. We briefed him on board of our timetable for the opening of the new branch.
We had another helicopter ride with the President of our bank from Bais City to Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental. This time he came again to inspect the site of another branch that we proposed to set up in Bais City, as part of our expansion program in the province.
Riding on a helicopter was a bit scary for us at first, as you can see the ground below while on flight, unlike in an airplane which flies up very high.
But private helicopters can bring us to another place faster since we do not have to wait for flight schedules. There are helicopters for hire but we believe that the rental is expensive. However, when it is for business and the transaction can justify it, why not?
In the bank where we worked before, there is a policy that no two officials of the same office, department or branch shall travel together by air, so that in case of accident or injury the operation will not be hampered.
In our opinion, the helicopter trip involving top four police generals in one helicopter ride should not have been allowed. It endangered the police organization. The recent helicopter crash should teach the police a good lesson.
***
GEM OF THOUGHT
Oh silent star of the Orient night,
When a Child gave flight,
Tell me with your gentle light,
Where He could be in sight?
***
For comments or re-actions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com./PN
