Tags: Administration, General News
By Anna Valmero
MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA – President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is taking responsibility for the tragic hostage crisis at the Quirino Grandstand that left eight Hong Kong nationals dead along with the hostage taker and former policeman Rolando Mendoza.
The hostage crisis also exposed the country’s security policies to international scrutiny because of the tragic end. Critics likewise slammed local media for their role in the standoff.
“At the end of the day I am responsible for everything that has transpired,” said Aquino in an ambush interview at the sidelines of the inauguration of a Convergys call center in San Lazaro.
A week after the incident, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Jesse Robredo was asked by some groups to resign from his appointment for lack of “core competence” to take charge of the hostage crisis situation.
Senator Francis Escudero warned Robredo that the latter will have difficulty during the confirmation process with the Commission on Appointments (CA).
Robredo, prior to his appointment as DILG chief, won as Naga City mayor and was nominated for World Mayor Award this year.
After the Quirino siege, Aquino said he will preside over the Philippine National Police for now after asking Robredo to focus on other functions of DILG such as setting up a plan to address the informal settlers in provinces and to improve the delivery of services by local government units or LGUs.
“I did tell him (Robredo) that at this point in time, we are trying to consolidate the security forces so that I will retain direct supervision on the PNP until such time he has addressed other concerns specifically on the provinces such as informal settlers who have been waiting (relocation) since 1994. There is also a need for a comprehensive plan there and to improve LGUs and so many other things to be tackled by that agency,” said Aquino.
Regarding a certain retired Army sergeant, who reportedly threatened to commit another hostage taking incident to decry unpaid service, Aquino urged the former officer to follow due process.
“Hindi dapat na nananakot, kung hindi tama ang umiiral tingan po natin kung may magagawa. Mahirap na nananakot siya, that is strictly wrong he should go, follow the due process. Otherwise, doing another wrong will not rectify the situation,” said Aquino.
Over the next two weeks, Aquino said he will demonstrate the capability of the security forces to the press.
Aquino declined to give details if the hostage crisis will affect the negotiations for the release of five Filipinos drug “mules” in China, saying that “low-profile negotiations” have been the established channel for such negotiation and that is one way of honoring China’s sovereignty on the issue.
“The advice of the DFA is to do it through back-channel means,” he said.
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