Search on for 'Facebook cops' who posed in front of hijacked bus

Unhappy over the backlash the gesture has triggered, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is tracing the identities of the "Facebook cops," who posted a photo of themselves in front of the tourist bus during last week’s Manila hostage crisis. In Manila, acting Manila Police District head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla vowed full sanctions against the five police personnel in the photo, if they are found to be under his command. “Binigyan ko ng instruction ang investigation para alamin sino (sila) at alamin ang sanctions (I have instructed our investigators to identify the police personnel who posed for photos and see what sanctions can be imposed on them)," Rongavilla said in an interview on dwIZ radio. He admitted that as of Monday morning, they have yet to identify the unit to which the police personnel belonged. The police personnel were featured on a page of the social networking site Facebook that criticized the Philippine government’s handling of last week’s hostage crisis. In the Facebook photo, four uniformed police personnel were seen posing in front of the tourist bus where the hostages were held. A fifth policeman was taking their photo. At least nine people were killed in last week’s incident, including eight Hong Kong tourists and the hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza. “Di namin alam kung saan sila naka-assign. Ang PNP nalulungkot sa kanilang pag-post na yan. On our side sa Manila police, inaalam ko kung member ng aming grupo yan (We do not know where these police personnel were assigned. The PNP is saddened over this posting. On our side in the Manila police, I have instructed our investigators to see if they are from our command)," Rongavilla said. Rongavilla said he instructed members of the Manila Police District to continue doing their duties despite the criticisms they have been receiving because of last week's hostage crisis. Rongavilla was named MPD officer-in-charge, to replace first OIC Senior Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, after MPD head Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay went on leave after the hostage crisis. “Sinasabi ko sa kanila, anuman ang nangyari noong nakaraan kailangan patuloy natin ang pagganap sa ating tungkulin. Kung anuman ang personal ninyong nararamdaman dapat mangibabaw ang ating duty, kailangan tuloy-tuloy. Kung ano ang maging comments dapat maging challenge yan, di pwedeng doon matapos yan. Kailangan patunayan natin ang MPD binansagan ninyo bago dumating ako, Manila’s Finest," Rongavilla said. (I told my men at the MPD, we must still do our job despite what happened. No matter what you feel, we must go on with our duty. All negative comments must be a challenge to us, we must prove we are Manila’s Finest.) –VVP, GMANews.TV