“At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that has transpired,” the Chief Executive told reporters at the launch of a newcall center in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Nearly two weeks after the tragic hostage-taking in Manila, President Benigno S. Aquino III on Friday took full responsibility for the government’s handling of the incident that ended with the death of eight Hong Kong tourists.

The President said he has retained interim control and supervision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after he assigned Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to focus on handling local government matters.

“At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that has transpired,” the Chief Executive told reporters at the launch of a newcall center in Sta. Cruz, Manila, apparently referring to the bungled government response to the hijacking of a bus with Hong Kong tourists on board.

The President's admission came after some groups criticized Robredo for hisfailure to take charge in handling the hostage crisis last August 23.

Robredo had earlier reportedly admitted he was not in the loop during the hostage-taking despite having supervision over the PNP as DILG head.

The President explained that he asked Robredo to improve the local government system as well as prepare a “comprehensive plan” for informal settlers in the country, shortly after his appointment last July. Mr. Aquino previously occupied the DILG top post in an interim capacity for more than two weeks until he appointed the former Naga City mayor to the position.

“The portfolio of Interior and Local Government, that portfolio I took upon myself until we nominated Secretary Robredo. When I got him, I did tell him that at this point in time, we were trying to consolidate, especially the security forces,” he said.

He said he would keep “direct supervision” over the PNP until Robredo addresses the concerns on the local government front. “There are so many things that have to be tackled by that agency, especially in delivery of services, I asked him to concentrate on that and I will retain for the interim control over the PNP,” he added.

On reports that the DILG secretary’s appointment may be blocked by some lawmakers, the President said Robredo would be able to explain and defend himself when faces the confirmation process at the Commission on Appointments.

The President, meantime, assured that his administration has taken steps to remedy the lapses in the hostage incident, including the enhancement of police capability in dealing with crisis. “By next week also, I hope we can demonstrate the capacity of our security forces in securing the people,” he said.

President Aquino said he went to Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan last Wednesday “to investigate certain leads” on the hostage incident. The police findings on the bus hijacking would be revealed hopefully by Monday, he added.

The police leadership has also suspended certain people involved in the bungled police assault and prevent them “from inflicting anymore of such actions on the people,” he said.

The President also said he would also wait for the findings of the committee probing the hostage-taking in Manila as he assured due process will be given to those who will be implicated in the crisis. “We will know precisely all the areas or most of the areas that need to be addressed to prevent such occurrence,” he said.

In explaining the President’s taking responsibility, Secretary Herminio Coloma, head of the Presidential Communications Operations Office, said the President wanted to emphasize the principle of accountable as enshrined in the Constitution.

“Public office is a public trust. He is also demonstrating his determination to bring about institutional reforms,” Coloma said.

Last week, the President vowed that heads will roll as soon as the official probe determines those accountable for the bungled police assault on the hijacked bus. “There were shortcomings and those mistakes are being corrected.

This should not happen again. Some people fell short and they will pay for it,” he said in Filipino.

Some groups claimed that the tragedy has impaired the President's reputation in his first major test of ability to handle a crisis. The tragic hostage-taking, which was carried live over television, has also affected the country's relations with China.

Reinstatement mulled
As this developed, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Rico Puno said Malacañang Palace was already on the verge of granting the demand of hostage-taker dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza to reinstate him to the police service but decided  not to push through it on the last minute as it would set a bad precedent in future hostage-taking incidents.

Puno disclosed this information before Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IICR) during the first day of marathon proceedings held at the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Padre Faura, Manila.

The committee headed by DoJ and DILG was tasked to probe the tragic August 23 hostage-taking that claimed the lives of eight tourists, mostly Hong Kong residents and the hostage-taker, in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila.

Puno told the committee chaired by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that National Capital Region Police (NCRPO) Director Leocadio Santiago already had a draft of a letter containing the order for Mendoza's reinstatement but it was not delivered because the hostage-taker supposedly started firing his rifle at victims inside the bus.

“There is already an order for Mendoza's reinstatement. It's one of our strategies and the order will be coming from the Office of the Executive Secretary.

But on the last minute, we decided against it kasi baka gayahin siya ng iba pang mga hostage-takers,” said Puno. He further said that he even requested for an executive session.

The DILG further said that early part of the negotiation for the hostage-drama, snipers were already scattered from different locations near the Hong Thai tourist bus.

“They (snipers) had a clear view of Mendoza and were ready to take him down (hostage-taker),” he told the committee.

But Puno said the snipers held their fire at Mendoza as they may harm the hostages during the firing.

“The primary objective at that time was to save the hostages, including the hostage-taker. We had lots of chances to take him down but we desisted to prevent any harm to the hostages. We had a chance, our snipers were able to have a good view of him even on the early stage of the negotiation,” Puno told the panel.

Puno admitted that there was limitation on the part of the police troop as they were not well-versed and trained to handle hostage-taking situations like what happened in Rizal Park.

This handicap, according to Puno, prompted him to leave the negotiations with the hostage-taker to the police negotiators.

Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, former police Manila Police District (MPD) director, who was invited to attend the proceedings, told the committee he is willing to accept full responsibility.

Puno also said Magitbay, who was designated as the ground commander during the hostage crisis, has the discretion to use or utilize what force is necessary to bring to a successful conclusion the Quirino Grandstand hostage stand-off.

The committee asked Puno why he did not order the participation of the Philippine National Police's Special Action Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Special Operation Group which offered their services.

“Committing these forces are the prerogative of the ground commander. And besides, reviews of the MPD's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) were very favorable at the time as it has handily won the title of being the best SWAT team in Metro Manila for the past two years and has more than sufficient equipment,” he added.

Puno also said that he authorized Magtibay to handle the situation with the MPD's SWAT unit as it was the police force that initially responded to the incident.

He even said that President Aquino had initially considered of talking with the hostage-taker but he was advised not to do so.

Senate probe
The Senate has invited representatives of media networks to its hearing into the August 23 hostage tragedy that will resume next week.

The chamber earlier decided to suspend its probe to allow the government to pursue its own investigation but Sen. Gregorio Honasan said senators have agreed to at least look into the effect of the live coverage of the media during the crisis.

Honasan said this was in response to Sen. Joker Arroyo who earlier manifested that the Senate should look into the role of the media in its blow-by-blow coverage of the 11-hour siege.

Expected to appear at the Senate hearing are representatives from the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkasters sa Pilipinas (KBP), several media organizations such as the National Press Club (NPC), GMA 7 Network, Radio Mindanao Network, and TV5.

Honasan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order which is conducting the hearing, said the aim of the investigation is to ascertain whether there are existing rules pertaining to the coverage of media during hostage crisis situations.

The Senate investigation has been set on 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7. Invitations have also been sent to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, as well as President Benigno Aquino III’s Communications Group – Secretaries Ricky Carandang, Herminio Coloma and Edwin Lacierda.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and National Telecommunications Commission chairman Gamaliel Cordova have also been invited.

The panel also summoned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, National Capital Police Regional director Leocadio Santiago Jr., Manila Police District acting director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla, Manila SWAT commander Chief Inspector Santiago Pascuall III; former MPD director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay and the hostage negotiator, Supt. Orlando Yebra.

Meanwhile, a local court in Manila has deferred the arraignment of the brother of slain hostage-taker Mendoza in connection with his alleged disobedience toward authorities while the 12-hour hostage crisis, which ended in the deaths of eight tourists, was still on-going.

The postponement of Senior Police Officer 2 Gregorio Mendoza's arraignment came about when Manila Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) Branch 11 Judge Ernest Louie Miguel granted his request to file a motion to quash the information against him in an open court last Thursday afternoon.

“Judge Miguel has postponed the arraignment of Mendoza after his counsel had asked him to defer the arraignment as they will file their motion to quash. It was granted in an open court,” Lawyer Ma. Luisa Arugay, clerk of court of MTC Branch 11, told the Manila Bulletin in an interview.

Arugay said that Judge Miguel has given the camp of Mendoza 10 days to file their motion and had set its oral argument on September 28.

Gregorio was charged by Assistant City Prosecutor Rosario Pimzon with the crime of Serious Disobedience under Article 151 of the Revised Penal Code via a preliminary inquest after he crossed the police line during the August 23 hostage-taking.

Lawyer Persida Rueda-Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney's Office and lead counsel of Mendoza, said they will seek for the junking of the criminal case against her client.

“We are seeking for the junking of criminal case against Mendoza because the information filed against Gregorio is defective and the elements of the crime to constitute the offense is not present,” she said in a telephone interview. (With reports from Jeamma E. Sabate, Hannah L. Torregoza and Leonard Postrado)