Philippine News Corner
By
Manila
Tue 7th September 2010
Text courtesy of and with permission-to-post by PNSRP and its Editor Mr. Rufino Gonzales
PNS -- To each his own thing, in negotiating releases of hostages, Philippine style.
Police hostage negotiator Supt. Orlando Yebra appeared before the inter-agency body investigating the Quirino Grandstand botched hostage rescue last Aug. 23 which resulted in the deaths of eight Chinese HongKong tourists along with the hostage taker, sacked police officer Rolando Mendoza.
Yebra admitted before the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), that the Aug. 23 hostage-taking negotiation was a failure since lives were lost as he cited that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has no hostage-taking situation manual to guide hostage negotiators in dealing with this kind of serious scenario.
The countrys image is getting worse internationally, however. Some 1,000 package tours to the Philippines after eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in a bus hijacking in Manila, have been canceled, Chinas state media said Monday
During the resumption of clarificatory hearings, Yebra, who was designated chief negotiator, also said the PNP has no official negotiating team to deal with hostage-taking situations.
At the same time, two IICR teams composed of prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DoJ) and officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) team left yesterday for Hong Kong to interview survivors as well as to possibly retrieve evidence that was inadvertently turned over to Hong Kong authorities.
Yebra said he had already made the suggestion to the PNP to come out with an official hostage-taking situation manual for hostage-taking negotiators but the law enforcement agency has yet to act upon the proposal. He also recommended to the PNP hierarchy to create a team to handle such hostage-taking incidents.
There is none (manual) specifically for negotiators to follow during tense stand-offs with hostage-taker or hostage-takers, he said.
With the absence of the PNP manual to hostage-taking situation, Yebra said they have to make do as they go along and to use the steps provided in the crisis management manual.
There is revised standard operating procedure for hostage scenario but it has yet to take effect this time. What I know, the CMC used the old one (crisis management committee manual), he said, adding that they have to rely on instincts and past experiences in dealing with such incidents. There is need for an official manual to guide negotiators step by step in dealing with such intense scenarios.
Since there is no official team to resolve hostage-taking, Yebra said he agreed to become a negotiator on that day because he has an oath to fulfill which is to help the people and maintain peace and order.
Yebra also told the committee that the crisis management committee (CMC) was unprepared and ill-equipped to handle high-profile hostage-taking incidents like the Aug. 23 hostage-taking.
The CMC, according to Yebra, appeared to have no concrete structures in addressing hostage-takings, noting that the CMC lacked time in formulating a concrete plan on that specific time and that specific hostage-taking.
He aid there was no chance to talk about the composition of the team. I found out that they automatically do the connection, installation, said Yebra.
He also admitted the exact role of Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador as another negotiator was not official and clear and that the composition of the intelligence unit of the crisis committee was also not defined.
I already presumed that, that function was already been handled by the intelligence team of the MPD (Manila Police District). There was no proper instruction to any member of that team. There was no formal communication and I only talked to Chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay, said Yebra. I did not receive information from intelligence group. How important? Very crucial. I have no other details aside from the information from Salvador. I didnt even know how many hostages there were. Honestly, I have not seen any from the command post (referring to other members of the CMC). No communication from the intelligence and I dont have knowledge that the handling was topsy-turvy behind my negotiation, Yebra explained.
Yebra said the letter from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), assuring him that the order of dismissal was deferred arrived at 8 p.m. Monday and the assault had already started. He said he was trying to call up the hostage-taker and then he found out that the assault had already started.
There was nothing of that sort (signals). What I saw was the driver coming out of the bus. I saw him run at about 8 p.m. I attempted to reach officials, but there was no longer any contact, he said.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima asked Yebra if the negotiation was a failure, and admitted that it was.
I want to clarify. It is not with me that things (the assault) have to be cleared. The assault can be done anytime even during negotiation. Nothing is in written or unwritten protocols. The assault can be done anytime and the ground commander can order an assault anytime,
There were scheduled closed door meetings with Yebra and other officials who sought an executive session, which means that transparency has again been sarificed.
The Justice Secretary said two IIRC teams were directed to fly to Hong Kong yesterday as she was told that eight cellular phones found from the bus involved in the hostage-taking drama were turned over to Hong Kong authorities.
For Malacaang, the message is Let the investigation take its course.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda turned to the ongoing proceedings in the IlRC when asked to give his feedback on the statement issued Sunday by Sen. Joker Arroyo who said that President Aquinos decision to own up responsibility for everything that happened last Aug. 23 amounted to nothing and has instead cheapened the presidency.
I think the fact that there is an investigation committee that is ongoing, that will show who were responsible for the incident. I think, lets wait for the report of the investigation committee to come out and it will be submitted to the President and he will study the recommendation, Lacierda said.
When asked for his explanation on the statement made by his principal he said. I think what he (Aquino) meant there (assuming full responsibility) was that of his being the Chief Executive, thats primarily it, he was apprised of the situation and the incident happened during his administrationthats it, Lacierda said.
The Palace spokesman was also unable to come up with a categorical statement when asked if it is only appropriate for the Cabinet officials concerned to tender their resignations in the spirit of delicadeza if they are found liable for mishandling the crisis situation in Quirino Grandstand two weeks ago.
If the results come out, well cross the bridge when we get there. We dont know yet what will be the results of the investigation. The investigation we believe is credible and independent, fair, as well as thorough. Once they submit the report to the President then well see, Lacierda said.
He said apart from former Manila Police District (MPD) director Gen. Rodolfo Magtibay and Philippine National Police (PNP) Dir. Gen. Jesus Verzosa who opted to go for an early retirement after what happened, no other officials from Aquinos Cabinet and other agencies have offered to tender their resignations in light of what happened.
Malacaang also begged off from commenting on the several lapses that the IIRC has unearthed so far during the course of its investigation that have been committed by the authorities who failed to deliver the best outcome in their crisis management.
Lacierda, meanwhile, practically downplayed the analysts findings as well as widespread observations that the publics trust and confidence with Aquino have been eroded due to his apparent failure in living up to their expectations when the crisis occurred.
I think the trust is still there. Im not a social scientist so I will not be in the position to say if it was really affected. Let us allow the professionals to make a study out of the situationpost-incident and as well as aspects I guess we better have an investigation, a report, if it comes out, lets make a comparison on what happened during the incident and the steps after the incident. Only there can we draw conclusions if things have changed, Lacierda explained.
Moreover, Lacierda said the corrective measures promised by the President last week may likely be announced this week or until the IIRC finishes its investigation on the matter insofar as the landmines that they said they have unearthed at the PNP are concerned.
We are currently reviewing the Philippine National Police, independent of the probe, what happened during the incident and what were the deficiencies found in the PNP. That will be presented, I think, this week, the Palace spokesman stressed.
Lacierda has denied reports that Aquino had ordered Verzosa to dismiss some of the top-ranking PNP officials who reportedly purchased substandard police gears that apparently led to the police forces incompetence in attending to crisis situations.
He also claimed that the PNP has an existing manual on how to conduct risky operations during hostage situations contrary to the statement made by MPD Supt. Yebra when he was grilled by the IIRC.
To my knowledge there are manuals. There is a police manual on hostage taking. Its a PNP manual operation actually. We are now reviewing the manuals and updating them, Lacierda told reporters.
The crisis has caused a strain in the diplomatic ties between the Hong Kong and Chinese governments, on the one hand ,and the Philippines, on the other.
Legislators in Hong Kong have reportedly demanded that the Philippine government provide compensation to the families of the slain tourists but Lacierda said they have not decided on this matter yet.
Now is not the appropriate time to discuss compensation with the Hong Kong victims. Theyre in a period of grief so we have no decision yet on the compensation, Lacierda explained when asked if this compensation will be shouldered personally by Aquino given his statement that he is taking full responsibility over everything that transpired last Aug. 23.
Meanwhile, the word from Beijing is that travelers from Hong Kong and mainland China have canceled more than 1,000 Philippine package tours after eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in a bus hijacking in Manila, state media said Monday.
The Philippine tourism industry could suffer resulting losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next three months, the China Daily reported, citing Philippine Department of Tourism Undersecretary Simeon Marfori.
It said Marfori was speaking at an international travel forum in southern China.
Hong Kong tourists accounted for one in 10 of all inbound tourists to the Philippines while Chinese tourists represented the highest growth market of visitors to the country, Marfori said. The report provided no other figures.
The day after the botched hostage rescue operations, Chinas National Tourism Administration urged its citizens traveling to the Philippines to exercise caution.
The Aquino administration did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on Monday.
A Shanghai-based customer service representative at China International Travel Service (CITS), who declined to be named, said the travel agency stopped offering group tours to the Philippines after the hijacking.
People were scared. No one wants to go there. Service will resume only after the impact of the hostage incident subsides, she said.
She added CITS would offer no package tours to the southeast Asian country during the National Day holiday in October, a peak season for Chinese tourism.
PNS --RETIRING Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa yesterday said he is taking full responsibility for the failures of the police under his command including the botched August 23 hostage-rescue operation in Manila.
My decision to render an early retirement has been announced more than a month ago. More than ever, it is imperative to take responsibility especially with regard to what has transpired in the past week.
In this regard, as chief of the national police, I take responsibility and accountability for all PNP units and all police personnel in everything they do or failed to do, Verzosa said in a statement.
The PNP chief announced his plan to retire from the service on September 14 or more than two months before his actual retirement date on December 25 several weeks before the infamous hostage-drama at the Quirino Grandstand saying he wants to give his rank to whoever will be his successor.
The PNP has been exercising all means in order to attain the effective resolution of the incident. The PNP will now undergo a time of transition. The support and cooperation of every sector, most especially the public, is needed.
It is now time to move forward and start anew. Rest assured that the national police will continue its sworn duty to serve and protect as well as render credible, effective and reliable service to the public, he said.
Verzosa has started bidding farewell to his officers and men. On Saturday, he was given retirement honors at the Philippine Military Academy in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City where he graduated in 1976.
PNS -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday remained steadfast and refused to quit his post, even virtually blaming President Aquino for owning up to the responsibility over the hostage fiasco, beating him and other government officials who were involved in the botched rescue operation to the draw.
In yesterdays hearing for the DILGs P86.9 billion budget, Robredo was grilled by lawmakers from opposing camps on the hostage rescue at the Luneta grandstand, where eight Hong Kong travelers were killed and several others seriously wounded.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farias told Robredo it was rather ironic it was Aquino who had to be the first to own up the responsibility on the hostage fiasco when his agency was supposedly calling the shots on the crisis.
You should spare the President of embarrassment. Nobody is owning responsibility. I am hurting for the President. You were not owning responsibility, forcing the President to own responsibility, said Farias, adding that Robredo should have at least tendered his resignation knowing it would be rejected by the President.
Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay also berated Robredo for letting Aquino own up the responsibility way ahead of them. You should be man enough to own up the responsibility!
In my opinion, maam, nobody asked him (Noynoy) to own up to responsibility, Robredo retorted raising a howl of protest from the jampacked crowd at the Andaya Hall.
Robredo also tried to justify their bungling of the situation saying the Aquino administration is only 60 days into power.
I am sorry Secretary Robredo, even though the Aquino administration has only been around for 60 days but the situation like what happened in Luneta cannot wait. It happened and you cannot give that as an excuse that you are only 60 days into office, said Magsaysay. When you are the president of this country you are supposed to appoint people who are more expert than you in the agency so that they can help and guide you in crafting and implementing government policy. When you are the president of the country, you are not sure whether you know everything. I dont think anybody has the monopoly of wisdom and experience of geniuses that he can do everything. And therefore he has to appoint somebody for the agency, the lady solon added.
Magsaysay said: It saddened me that the President of the country takes over the PNP. It is a reflection that probably he did not make the right choice in choosing the people who will handle his Cabinet as far as the DILG is concerned. Dont you think that is a reflection that he has to take over because he does not have full trust and confidence in your organization, whether it is you Secretary Robredo or Undersecretary Ric Puno? Magsaysay added.
Lagman for his part, asked Robredo why he should not inhibit himself in the investigating body formed to probe the incident.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casio demanded that Aquino take the next step by firing officials directly involved in the hostage-taking fiasco.
It is not enough for the President to admit responsibility for the fiasco. Its time to fire DILG Usec Ric Puno, PNP Director General Jesus Versoza, and Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay. The President should ensure that those directly accountable are fired if they do not have the delicadeza to resign, Casio said.
President Aquino should put his friendship with Usec. Puno aside and hold him accountable, considering that he was personally assigned by the President to handle the PNP, in effect undermining DILG Secretary Jesse Robredos authority, he added.
Puno is known to be President Aquinos campaign ground commander, shooting buddy and fellow gun enthusiast. But hes apparently not qualified to handle police affairs. The current short-circuited DILG set-up was a major factor in the bungled rescue and other slip-ups in the DILG, Casio said.
Malacaang yesterday confirmed reports that Robredo, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje were all appointed by Aquino only in an acting capacity and therefore are not subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments by the 15th Congress.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President will be able to explain about it in the press briefing that he may host with Palace reporters this week.
All Cabinet appointments are, however, on an acting capacity, and only when they are confirmed by the CA that assume full status.
Lacierda also explained that he is still awaiting the list of Cabinet secretaries whose appointments are subject to confirmation by the CA to be furnished by the Office of the Executive Secretary.
In a follow statement he issued to Palace reporters, Lacierda was only able to speak on the case of Robredo in which he said: Secretary Robredo was appointed Acting Secretary of DILG since July 9. No need for confirmation and he enjoys his (Aquinos) trust.
Hostage-taking negotiation was a failure -- Yebra
By
Manila
Tue 7th September 2010
Text courtesy of and with permission-to-post by PNSRP and its Editor Mr. Rufino Gonzales
"Hostage-taking negotiation was a failure" -- Yebra
PNS -- To each his own thing, in negotiating releases of hostages, Philippine style.
Police hostage negotiator Supt. Orlando Yebra appeared before the inter-agency body investigating the Quirino Grandstand botched hostage rescue last Aug. 23 which resulted in the deaths of eight Chinese HongKong tourists along with the hostage taker, sacked police officer Rolando Mendoza.
Yebra admitted before the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), that the Aug. 23 hostage-taking negotiation was a failure since lives were lost as he cited that the Philippine National Police (PNP) has no hostage-taking situation manual to guide hostage negotiators in dealing with this kind of serious scenario.
The countrys image is getting worse internationally, however. Some 1,000 package tours to the Philippines after eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in a bus hijacking in Manila, have been canceled, Chinas state media said Monday
During the resumption of clarificatory hearings, Yebra, who was designated chief negotiator, also said the PNP has no official negotiating team to deal with hostage-taking situations.
At the same time, two IICR teams composed of prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DoJ) and officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) team left yesterday for Hong Kong to interview survivors as well as to possibly retrieve evidence that was inadvertently turned over to Hong Kong authorities.
Yebra said he had already made the suggestion to the PNP to come out with an official hostage-taking situation manual for hostage-taking negotiators but the law enforcement agency has yet to act upon the proposal. He also recommended to the PNP hierarchy to create a team to handle such hostage-taking incidents.
There is none (manual) specifically for negotiators to follow during tense stand-offs with hostage-taker or hostage-takers, he said.
With the absence of the PNP manual to hostage-taking situation, Yebra said they have to make do as they go along and to use the steps provided in the crisis management manual.
There is revised standard operating procedure for hostage scenario but it has yet to take effect this time. What I know, the CMC used the old one (crisis management committee manual), he said, adding that they have to rely on instincts and past experiences in dealing with such incidents. There is need for an official manual to guide negotiators step by step in dealing with such intense scenarios.
Since there is no official team to resolve hostage-taking, Yebra said he agreed to become a negotiator on that day because he has an oath to fulfill which is to help the people and maintain peace and order.
Yebra also told the committee that the crisis management committee (CMC) was unprepared and ill-equipped to handle high-profile hostage-taking incidents like the Aug. 23 hostage-taking.
The CMC, according to Yebra, appeared to have no concrete structures in addressing hostage-takings, noting that the CMC lacked time in formulating a concrete plan on that specific time and that specific hostage-taking.
He aid there was no chance to talk about the composition of the team. I found out that they automatically do the connection, installation, said Yebra.
He also admitted the exact role of Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador as another negotiator was not official and clear and that the composition of the intelligence unit of the crisis committee was also not defined.
I already presumed that, that function was already been handled by the intelligence team of the MPD (Manila Police District). There was no proper instruction to any member of that team. There was no formal communication and I only talked to Chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay, said Yebra. I did not receive information from intelligence group. How important? Very crucial. I have no other details aside from the information from Salvador. I didnt even know how many hostages there were. Honestly, I have not seen any from the command post (referring to other members of the CMC). No communication from the intelligence and I dont have knowledge that the handling was topsy-turvy behind my negotiation, Yebra explained.
Yebra said the letter from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), assuring him that the order of dismissal was deferred arrived at 8 p.m. Monday and the assault had already started. He said he was trying to call up the hostage-taker and then he found out that the assault had already started.
There was nothing of that sort (signals). What I saw was the driver coming out of the bus. I saw him run at about 8 p.m. I attempted to reach officials, but there was no longer any contact, he said.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima asked Yebra if the negotiation was a failure, and admitted that it was.
I want to clarify. It is not with me that things (the assault) have to be cleared. The assault can be done anytime even during negotiation. Nothing is in written or unwritten protocols. The assault can be done anytime and the ground commander can order an assault anytime,
There were scheduled closed door meetings with Yebra and other officials who sought an executive session, which means that transparency has again been sarificed.
The Justice Secretary said two IIRC teams were directed to fly to Hong Kong yesterday as she was told that eight cellular phones found from the bus involved in the hostage-taking drama were turned over to Hong Kong authorities.
For Malacaang, the message is Let the investigation take its course.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda turned to the ongoing proceedings in the IlRC when asked to give his feedback on the statement issued Sunday by Sen. Joker Arroyo who said that President Aquinos decision to own up responsibility for everything that happened last Aug. 23 amounted to nothing and has instead cheapened the presidency.
I think the fact that there is an investigation committee that is ongoing, that will show who were responsible for the incident. I think, lets wait for the report of the investigation committee to come out and it will be submitted to the President and he will study the recommendation, Lacierda said.
When asked for his explanation on the statement made by his principal he said. I think what he (Aquino) meant there (assuming full responsibility) was that of his being the Chief Executive, thats primarily it, he was apprised of the situation and the incident happened during his administrationthats it, Lacierda said.
The Palace spokesman was also unable to come up with a categorical statement when asked if it is only appropriate for the Cabinet officials concerned to tender their resignations in the spirit of delicadeza if they are found liable for mishandling the crisis situation in Quirino Grandstand two weeks ago.
If the results come out, well cross the bridge when we get there. We dont know yet what will be the results of the investigation. The investigation we believe is credible and independent, fair, as well as thorough. Once they submit the report to the President then well see, Lacierda said.
He said apart from former Manila Police District (MPD) director Gen. Rodolfo Magtibay and Philippine National Police (PNP) Dir. Gen. Jesus Verzosa who opted to go for an early retirement after what happened, no other officials from Aquinos Cabinet and other agencies have offered to tender their resignations in light of what happened.
Malacaang also begged off from commenting on the several lapses that the IIRC has unearthed so far during the course of its investigation that have been committed by the authorities who failed to deliver the best outcome in their crisis management.
Lacierda, meanwhile, practically downplayed the analysts findings as well as widespread observations that the publics trust and confidence with Aquino have been eroded due to his apparent failure in living up to their expectations when the crisis occurred.
I think the trust is still there. Im not a social scientist so I will not be in the position to say if it was really affected. Let us allow the professionals to make a study out of the situationpost-incident and as well as aspects I guess we better have an investigation, a report, if it comes out, lets make a comparison on what happened during the incident and the steps after the incident. Only there can we draw conclusions if things have changed, Lacierda explained.
Moreover, Lacierda said the corrective measures promised by the President last week may likely be announced this week or until the IIRC finishes its investigation on the matter insofar as the landmines that they said they have unearthed at the PNP are concerned.
We are currently reviewing the Philippine National Police, independent of the probe, what happened during the incident and what were the deficiencies found in the PNP. That will be presented, I think, this week, the Palace spokesman stressed.
Lacierda has denied reports that Aquino had ordered Verzosa to dismiss some of the top-ranking PNP officials who reportedly purchased substandard police gears that apparently led to the police forces incompetence in attending to crisis situations.
He also claimed that the PNP has an existing manual on how to conduct risky operations during hostage situations contrary to the statement made by MPD Supt. Yebra when he was grilled by the IIRC.
To my knowledge there are manuals. There is a police manual on hostage taking. Its a PNP manual operation actually. We are now reviewing the manuals and updating them, Lacierda told reporters.
The crisis has caused a strain in the diplomatic ties between the Hong Kong and Chinese governments, on the one hand ,and the Philippines, on the other.
Legislators in Hong Kong have reportedly demanded that the Philippine government provide compensation to the families of the slain tourists but Lacierda said they have not decided on this matter yet.
Now is not the appropriate time to discuss compensation with the Hong Kong victims. Theyre in a period of grief so we have no decision yet on the compensation, Lacierda explained when asked if this compensation will be shouldered personally by Aquino given his statement that he is taking full responsibility over everything that transpired last Aug. 23.
Meanwhile, the word from Beijing is that travelers from Hong Kong and mainland China have canceled more than 1,000 Philippine package tours after eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in a bus hijacking in Manila, state media said Monday.
The Philippine tourism industry could suffer resulting losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next three months, the China Daily reported, citing Philippine Department of Tourism Undersecretary Simeon Marfori.
It said Marfori was speaking at an international travel forum in southern China.
Hong Kong tourists accounted for one in 10 of all inbound tourists to the Philippines while Chinese tourists represented the highest growth market of visitors to the country, Marfori said. The report provided no other figures.
The day after the botched hostage rescue operations, Chinas National Tourism Administration urged its citizens traveling to the Philippines to exercise caution.
The Aquino administration did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment on Monday.
A Shanghai-based customer service representative at China International Travel Service (CITS), who declined to be named, said the travel agency stopped offering group tours to the Philippines after the hijacking.
People were scared. No one wants to go there. Service will resume only after the impact of the hostage incident subsides, she said.
She added CITS would offer no package tours to the southeast Asian country during the National Day holiday in October, a peak season for Chinese tourism.
Verzosa takes blame
PNS --RETIRING Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa yesterday said he is taking full responsibility for the failures of the police under his command including the botched August 23 hostage-rescue operation in Manila.
My decision to render an early retirement has been announced more than a month ago. More than ever, it is imperative to take responsibility especially with regard to what has transpired in the past week.
In this regard, as chief of the national police, I take responsibility and accountability for all PNP units and all police personnel in everything they do or failed to do, Verzosa said in a statement.
The PNP chief announced his plan to retire from the service on September 14 or more than two months before his actual retirement date on December 25 several weeks before the infamous hostage-drama at the Quirino Grandstand saying he wants to give his rank to whoever will be his successor.
The PNP has been exercising all means in order to attain the effective resolution of the incident. The PNP will now undergo a time of transition. The support and cooperation of every sector, most especially the public, is needed.
It is now time to move forward and start anew. Rest assured that the national police will continue its sworn duty to serve and protect as well as render credible, effective and reliable service to the public, he said.
Verzosa has started bidding farewell to his officers and men. On Saturday, he was given retirement honors at the Philippine Military Academy in Fort del Pilar, Baguio City where he graduated in 1976.
DILG chief wont quit
PNS -- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo yesterday remained steadfast and refused to quit his post, even virtually blaming President Aquino for owning up to the responsibility over the hostage fiasco, beating him and other government officials who were involved in the botched rescue operation to the draw.
In yesterdays hearing for the DILGs P86.9 billion budget, Robredo was grilled by lawmakers from opposing camps on the hostage rescue at the Luneta grandstand, where eight Hong Kong travelers were killed and several others seriously wounded.
Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Farias told Robredo it was rather ironic it was Aquino who had to be the first to own up the responsibility on the hostage fiasco when his agency was supposedly calling the shots on the crisis.
You should spare the President of embarrassment. Nobody is owning responsibility. I am hurting for the President. You were not owning responsibility, forcing the President to own responsibility, said Farias, adding that Robredo should have at least tendered his resignation knowing it would be rejected by the President.
Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay also berated Robredo for letting Aquino own up the responsibility way ahead of them. You should be man enough to own up the responsibility!
In my opinion, maam, nobody asked him (Noynoy) to own up to responsibility, Robredo retorted raising a howl of protest from the jampacked crowd at the Andaya Hall.
Robredo also tried to justify their bungling of the situation saying the Aquino administration is only 60 days into power.
I am sorry Secretary Robredo, even though the Aquino administration has only been around for 60 days but the situation like what happened in Luneta cannot wait. It happened and you cannot give that as an excuse that you are only 60 days into office, said Magsaysay. When you are the president of this country you are supposed to appoint people who are more expert than you in the agency so that they can help and guide you in crafting and implementing government policy. When you are the president of the country, you are not sure whether you know everything. I dont think anybody has the monopoly of wisdom and experience of geniuses that he can do everything. And therefore he has to appoint somebody for the agency, the lady solon added.
Magsaysay said: It saddened me that the President of the country takes over the PNP. It is a reflection that probably he did not make the right choice in choosing the people who will handle his Cabinet as far as the DILG is concerned. Dont you think that is a reflection that he has to take over because he does not have full trust and confidence in your organization, whether it is you Secretary Robredo or Undersecretary Ric Puno? Magsaysay added.
Lagman for his part, asked Robredo why he should not inhibit himself in the investigating body formed to probe the incident.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casio demanded that Aquino take the next step by firing officials directly involved in the hostage-taking fiasco.
It is not enough for the President to admit responsibility for the fiasco. Its time to fire DILG Usec Ric Puno, PNP Director General Jesus Versoza, and Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay. The President should ensure that those directly accountable are fired if they do not have the delicadeza to resign, Casio said.
President Aquino should put his friendship with Usec. Puno aside and hold him accountable, considering that he was personally assigned by the President to handle the PNP, in effect undermining DILG Secretary Jesse Robredos authority, he added.
Puno is known to be President Aquinos campaign ground commander, shooting buddy and fellow gun enthusiast. But hes apparently not qualified to handle police affairs. The current short-circuited DILG set-up was a major factor in the bungled rescue and other slip-ups in the DILG, Casio said.
Malacaang yesterday confirmed reports that Robredo, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje were all appointed by Aquino only in an acting capacity and therefore are not subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments by the 15th Congress.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President will be able to explain about it in the press briefing that he may host with Palace reporters this week.
All Cabinet appointments are, however, on an acting capacity, and only when they are confirmed by the CA that assume full status.
Lacierda also explained that he is still awaiting the list of Cabinet secretaries whose appointments are subject to confirmation by the CA to be furnished by the Office of the Executive Secretary.
In a follow statement he issued to Palace reporters, Lacierda was only able to speak on the case of Robredo in which he said: Secretary Robredo was appointed Acting Secretary of DILG since July 9. No need for confirmation and he enjoys his (Aquinos) trust.