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Sept 12, 2010
MANILA (PilipinasNews) — Heads will roll as a result of the hostage incident at the Luneta on August 23 in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed together with the hostage taker, a dismissed police officer.
This was assured anew by President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III even as National Capital Region Office (NCRPO) director Leocadio Santiago had offered to resign following the bungled attempt to rescue the Hong Kong hostages.
President Aquino also will install a new Philippine National Police chief on September 14 after PNP Director General Jesus Versoza opted to retire three months before his mandatory retirement in December.
The hostage incident has triggered anger and massive criticisms against Philippine officials, including President Aquino whose credibility and capability to govern, especially in times of crisis such as the incident, was questioned.
Aquino told a media panel in his first ever no-holds-barred interview in Malacanang that NCRPO director Chief Supt. Santiago, former Special Action Force (SAF) chief, offered his “head” as a result of the bloody hostage incident where former police officer Rolando Mendoza, the hostage taker, was also killed.
The President assured the media panel composed of Mel Tiangco of GMA 7, Ted Failon of ABS-CBN 2 and Paolo Bediones of Channel 5 that “heads will roll” once the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) will complete its probe on the incident.
The President stressed he will wait for the final report of the IIRC led by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima before deciding on whose heads will roll.
To make sure that security forces will be ready in time of crisis situations, keeping in mind the unfortunate botched rescue attempt in the hostage-taking incident last August 23, President Aquino III on Thursday visited Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City to inspect a simulated hostage taking demonstrating by the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF).
The elite unit of the PNP applying a well planned approach demonstrated to the chief executive how to effectively assault a bus as swift as possible to subdue a hostage taker and rescue his victims.
The SAF rapid deployment force showed three options to gain access to the bus using frame charges to blast windows, an APC tank, ladders and other emergency equipment.
The President said that while he was pleased with the well planned and executed response to retake the bus he was disappointed why such capabilities were not used in the recent hostage situation.
“This was what I expected, the President said, adding “I think you saw how organize they were in demonstrating what they were supposed to do.”
The President also said that efforts were underway to further enhance the needs of security forces.
After the demonstration the President inspected high calibre weapons such as assault and precision rifles, as well as recently purchased speed boats that the SAF will use in combat situations.
Joining the President in the exercise were Police Director Leocadio Santiago, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, SAF acting director Catalino Cuy, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Hermino Coloma, Secretary Ramon Carandang and Under Secretary Manolo Quezon of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office.
The President also clarified that Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo is in charge of the local government while undersecretary Rico Puno is in charge of police matters and concerns. There have been calls for the resignation of Robredo and Puno due to the hostage incident.
The Chief Executive admitted that although Puno told the IIRC that he has no experience in hostage crisis and admitted his failure, he has full trust and confidence in the beleaguered undersecretary.
The President also defended Robredo, saying designated him to be one in charge of local government to address national concerns such as informal settlers and attending nip in the bud the reported growth of dengue cases across the country.
The President clarified that PNP chief Director General Jesus Versoza earlier sought for an early retirement and it is only coincidental that his retirement will culminate following the August 23 hostage incident.
Aquino stressed that he will name the replacement of Versoza on September 14 or 15.
President Aquino also told the media panel that there should be a continuous training of the special strike force he created composed of 200500 PNP-AFP that will handle crisis situation like what transpired in Quirino Grandstand on August 23.
He added, it is also important that law enforcers should not only be trained to handle crisis situations but must also ensure that they have the much needed equipment.
Meanwhile, China has asked anew the Philippine Government to produce a “comprehensive and fair report” on the incident, “which tells the truth, upholds justice.”
The Chinese embassy in Manila noted that Beijing’s ambassador to Manila, Liu Jianchao, met earlier with President Aquino III at Malacanang.
During their exchange of views, Aquino was quoted as saying that he “looked forward to the concerted efforts by the two sides in striking a proper settlement of the related issues and moving on with Philippine-China relations.
In the one-on-one update, both Aquino and Liu considered the August 23 hostage-taking “an isolated incident” even as they tackled also Manila-Beijing relations as whole.
The Philippine President reiterated the “great importance “the Philippine Government attaches to developing friendly relations and cooperation with China.”
He reportedly stressed that “the Philippine side will work closely with the Chinese side to go ahead with the investigation without unprincipled protection and cover-up.”