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Aquino owns up to bungled hostage rescue


PRESIDENT BENIGNO C. Aquino III has claimed full responsibility over the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) botched hostage rescue operations last week that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead, saying he has direct supervision over the police.
Mr. Aquino noted that he assumed the portfolio of the Department of Interior and Local Government prior to the appointment of Secretary Jesse M. Robredo whom he tasked to focus on improving local government units.

"When I got him, [I told him that] I will retain direct supervision on the PNP until such time other concerns specifically our promises to the informal settlers of our country [are addressed]… There are so many things that have to be tackled by that agency especially in delivery of services [and] I asked him to concentrate on that," Mr. Aquino told reporters on Friday at the sidelines of the Convergys contact center launch in San Lazaro, Manila.

"I will retain, for the interim, control over the PNP. At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that has transpired," he added.

The President’s admission was contrary to his earlier claim that Rico E. Puno, Interior undersecretary for peace and order, was directly in charge of the hostage rescue operations.

Clarifying Mr. Aquino’s statement, Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio "Sonny" R. Coloma said the president is emphasizing the principle of accountability in taking full responsibility over the event.

"As enshrined in the Constitution, public office is a public trust, [Mr. Aquino] is also demonstrating his determination to bring about institutional reforms," Mr. Coloma told reporters in a text message.

The 10-hour hostage drama in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and broadcast live over TV last Nov 23 ended with the police killing gunman Rolado D. Mendoza, a sacked policeman who hijacked a bus and demanded reinstatement two years after his dishonorable dismissal on extortion charges.
PROBE PROCEEDINGS
Meanwhile, the National Government did not plan to intervene in the hostage crisis as Mr. Puno admitted that he was not experienced in handling hostage-taking situations.

M. Puno said the incident was considered a "local crisis" whose management was left with the city government of Manila.

"We did not consider [raising the crisis to a national level], but we were on standby. The national crisis committee was on standby, and ready to take over in case we elevate to national crisis," Mr. Puno said Friday during the first hearing of the incident investigation and review committee at the Department of Justice in Manila.

But it never appeared to be a "crisis of national character," he added, because the gunman was "very cooperative."

"[But everything changed] when he saw his brother [Gregorio] being arrested," he added.

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim and Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, former Manila Police District (MPD), who served as ground commander, led the crisis management committee.

For his part, Roan I. Libarios, governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and member of the probe panel, said there was a time that the only demand of the hostage-taker was to "release his brother" Gregorio.

"There was a radio interview [by radio broadcaster Erwin Tulfo] where he [Mendoza] said that," he said.

To this, Mr. Magtibay replied: "That message was not relayed to us."

He said it was Superintendent Orlando Yebra, hostage negotiator, who told him and Mr. Lim that Gregorio must be charged for being a "conspirator and accessory" to the crime.

It was then that Mr. Lim ordered the "handcuffing" of Gregorio, he added.

Mr. Puno admitted the government "considered" giving in to Mendoza’s demand to be reinstated.

"But after further reflection you decided not to pursue that?" Justice Secretary Leila M. de Lima asked. To which Mr. Puno agreed.

For his part, Director-General Jesus A. Versoza, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said negotiations failed because of PNP’s failure in "crowd control."

"There was a mix-up. These interfered directly with our operatives. We have not perfected crowd control," Mr. Versoza said.

Curious onlookers were dangerously close to the incident such that one bystander was hit by a stray bullet.

For his part, Herman Z. Basbaño, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas and another panel member, said media could not be prevented to cover the event "in a democracy," but "there should be protocols."

"Media are far from the crime scene. But some of them managed to break through the police line. There should be a mechanism that nobody would be able to sneak in," he said in Filipino.

Broadcast media have been partly blamed for the failure of hostage negotiations after Mendoza was agitated upon seeing his brother on TV being handcuffed by authorities.

Mr. Basbaño said the police should have asked a "technical expert" on how to jam the TV on the bus.

In a related development, Ms. de Lima, probe committee chairman, said those who responded were not the best SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) members in MPD.

To this, Mr. Versoza replied: "It’s possible. They [SWAT members] sometimes seek to be transferred to other tasks… to less grave incidences."

The probe committee is set to continue its investigation today until Monday, and is expected to come up with a report on Sept. 13 to be submitted to the President. -- Ana Mae G. Roa and Prinz P. Magtulis
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