4 SWAT leaders in hostage crisis sacked

Four team leaders of the Manila police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit were relieved of their posts Wednesday, two days after the bloody hostage crisis in Manila, which left eight Hong Kong tourists and the hostage-taker dead. Relieved were Chief Inspector Santiago Pascual, Senior Police Officer 4 Reynaldo Antonio, SPO3 Alfonso Gameng, and SPO2 Bernardo Espinosa, according to Manila Police District (MPD) Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay. The head of the MPD SWAT team and three other team leaders were placed on “administrative relief" in the aftermath of Monday’s bloody hostage drama, Magtibay said. The hostage crisis erupted Monday in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park after dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus at Fort Santiago, about a kilometer from the grandstand, and held hostage 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos. Nine people died, including eight Hong Kong tourists and the hostage-taker, who was killed by a sniper's bullet. Chief Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., the PNP spokesperson, said the four SWAT officials were relieved to keep them from exerting "undue influence" on the committee — the Post Critical Incident Management Committee (PCIMC), composed of the PNP's directorial staff headed by Verzosa — tasked to investigate the incident.

The committee is composed of members of the PNP directorates for investigation and detective management, intelligence, police community relations, and operations. "On orders of the chief PNP, the investigation will be conducted 24/7, walang tulugan (no sleeping)," Cruz said. Magtibay goes on leave President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III meanwhile accepted Magtibay’s offer to go on leave following the bloody hostage crisis. In a press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday, Aquino said he directed Philippine National Police chief Director General Jesus Verzosa to accept Magtibay’s offer to go on leave. “I respect him [Magtibay] for taking full responsibility – as ground commander – of the outcome of this incident," the President said. He added that Magtibay’s leave status will likely take effect Thursday. Aquino likewise said that PNP is in the process of coming up with a list of names of police officers who will take over Magtibay’s post. “We will be submitting this list to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, and he will be the one to choose from this list, as found in the PNP law," he said. Magtibay on Wednesday morning said he is willing to go on leave and take responsibility for the bloody outcome of the hostage crisis. Aquino stands by Verzosa, Cabinet members Despite accepting the Manila police chief’s offer to go on leave, Aquino said there is no need for Verzosa and other Cabinet members to follow suit. Verzosa has shown competence in his almost two years as police chief, Aquino said. “Marami naman ho yatang achievements si Director Verzosa. Look at the extralegal killings, given the necessary support, during the first three weeks, nasolve yung three of the six. I think he’s competent enough to answer all these," he said in the same press briefing. The President also brushed off calls by some members of the House of Representatives for Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, as well as members of the Palace communication group to resign. He advised the congressmen, mostly from the opposition, to wait for the outcome of the investigation before pointing fingers at anyone. “I would not want to prejudge the investigation that will be conducted to be spearheaded by the Justice Secretary… Certain members of the House has responded to these statements, and I think there is no need for me to respond," the President said. —VS, GMANews.TV