Kin of Filipino cop in Washington DC plane crash arrive in US. Police Attaché Colonel Moises Villaceran Jr. 

MANILA — The relatives of Police Colonel Pergentino Malabed Jr. have arrived in the United States to process his remains, an official said on Monday.

Malabed, a Filipino police official, was among those killed in the mid-air collision of a passenger plane and a military helicopter over Washington D.C.'s Potomac River last week.

Malabed, 51, was on official travel during the incident.

His relatives arrived in the US on Sunday night, accompanied by police liaison officer PCol. Cecille Viloria, Police Attaché Colonel Moises Villaceran Jr. told ABS-CBN News.

He said he assisted Malabed’s relatives along with Consul General Donna Rodriguez of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C.

“I gave a short update of the incident and ConGen Donna informed her about necessary requirements at kung pano maiuwi ang remains ng mister niya. Si ConGen Donna ang tutulong sa documentation,”Villaceran said in a phone message.

The Philippine National Police earlier said Malabed’s remains would only be officially identified once his kin personally verify the cadaver.

US authorities have yet to issue a statement on when Malabed’s remains would be repatriated to the Philippines.

Salvage effort continues as DC crash rescuers say 55 victims identified

Dozens of victims have been pulled from the icy Potomac River, and rescuers voiced confidence that those remaining would be retrieved in the massive operation to recover the plane that collided in midair with a Black Hawk military helicopter.

Washington fire chief John Donnelly said human remains of some of the 67 people killed in the crash had been found as efforts were made to lift the fuselage of the plane, adding that they were taken to the medical examiner.

"So far, 55 victims have been positively identified...from this accident," he added.

The airliner was coming in to land at Reagan National Airport -- just a few miles from the White House -- when it collided with a US Army helicopter on a training mission on Wednesday night.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to compile a preliminary report within 30 days, although a full investigation could take a year.

As the investigation searches for answers, aviation experts have homed in on whether the helicopter crew could see through military night-vision goggles and whether the Reagan National Airport control tower was understaffed.

— With a report from Agence France-Presse