Cop rejects calls for resignation over hostage crisis

Despite mounting calls for the ouster of some Philippine police officials over Monday's bloody hostage crisis in Manila, a cop said he would not quit his post until findings in the investigation on the incident say so. Metro Manila police chief Director Leocadio Santiago Jr. said they cannot just give in to "emotions," but said he would abide by the findings of the probe on the incident. "Hindi ako magre-resign at di ko sina-suggest na mag-resign ang mga tauhan at liderato ng police. Paiimbestiga kaming lahat, subject kami sa investigation at sabihin ng nag-iimbestiga saan ang mali at doon ibase ang kanilang investigation (I will not resign and I will not suggest my subordinates or my superiors to quit. We have subjected ourselves to an investigation and we will abide by what the results would show)," Santiago said in an interview on dzXL radio. Many sectors had called for the ouster of police officials led by Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa in the wake of Monday's incident. Several visitors to President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's Facebook page had insisted that "heads should roll," including those of police officials. They particularly called for the ouster of Verzosa, Manila police head Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, and Santiago. "Sana di dumating ang punto na ang gumawa ng serbisyo at naglatag ng kanilang buhay at kinabukasan para tulungan ang ibang tao ay ipagsaalang-alang sa obserbasyon at haka-haka ng emosyon (I hope the issue would not come to the point that the policemen who serve and risk their lives would be subjected to undue pressure because of opinions and emotions)," Santiago said. He also chided those seeking their resignation for their "tendency to self-flagellate" and to criticize others. Besides, he said the police's decision to deal with hostage taker dismissed Senior Inspector Rodolfo Mendoza had been "done according to the book" until a "hasty assault" was conducted. "Everything was done according to the book until the hasty assault was conducted, which to the best of the police force tried to execute to save the lives of the hostages," he said. He said he is no longer in a position to say if there were defects in the decision-making process, saying it is now the subject of post-investigation and post-analysis. The hostage crisis in Manila met a bloody end Monday night, after a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team assaulted a tourist bus full of mostly Chinese tourists, resulting in the death of hostage taker Rolando Mendoza, a disgruntled former police officer, and eight hostages as of Tuesday morning, according to a dzBB report. — LBG, GMANews.TV