United States Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, has expressed her condolences following the death of Police Col. Pergentino Malabed in a mid-air collision in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
The incident, which involved American Eagle Flight 5342 colliding with a U.S. Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport, claimed the lives of 67 people.
Malabed, the chief of the Supply Management Division of the Philippine National Police (PNP), was on official travel at the time of the crash.
His mission included engaging with a company supplying armored vests to the PNP and meeting Police Col. Moises Villaceran, the Philippine police attaché in Washington, D.C.
In a statement on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Ambassador Carlson extended her condolences to Malabed’s family and colleagues within the PNP, acknowledging his dedication to peace and security.
The PNP also released a tribute, emphasizing Malabed’s commitment to his duties and his significant contributions to the police force.
The mid-air collision, involving a commercial flight and a military aircraft, has drawn attention due to the circumstances surrounding the crash, including concerns about air safety and flight coordination.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the accident, with multiple agencies involved in the inquiry.