US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson. INQUIRER.net file photo / RYAN LEAGOGO
MANILA, Philippines — United States Ambassador to the Philippines Marykay Carlson is mourning the loss of a Filipino colonel who died during an air crash in Washington, D.C on Wednesday.
Police Col. Pergentino Malabed, chief of the Supply Management Division of the Philippine National Police (PNP), was among the 67 people who died in the mid-air collision. He was on board American Eagle Flight 5342 that collided with a US Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.
READ: PNP official among fatalities in Washington mid-air collision
“We mourn the loss of Police Col. Pergentino Malabed, who died in the recent Washington, DC plane crash. His service and commitment to upholding peace and security will never be forgotten,” Carlson posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“Our hearts go out to his family and @pnppio colleagues at this time of great loss,” Carlson added.
PNP in its tribute statement on Friday said that 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.”
READ: Washington midair crash: What we know so far
PNP Public Information Office chief Col. Randulf Tuaño on Friday said that Malabed travelled to the US to visit the company that owned the armored vests purchased by the PNP Directorate for Logistics and try them out.
The Supply Management Division chief was then instructed to pay a courtesy exit call to PCol. Moises Villaceran, the country’s police attaché in Washington, D.C.