PNP audit sought after Manila hostage incident

A former police official-turned-lawmaker will ask for a financial, logistical and operation audit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) following its alleged shortcomings in handling the Aug. 23 hostage-taking incident in Manila that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead. Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop said this is to determine if the government provided enough logistical funds for the PNP and whether these were used properly. “I was batting for logistical and financial audit of the PNP to find out whether funds were given by Congress and to find out also whether these funds were properly used to provide the necessary equipment for our SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) teams," he said. The former PNP director for comptrollership also wants an operation audit “to find out the status of the readiness of the Philippine National Police to answer or give action to this situation." He said the PNP will be grilled about this once the House of Representatives starts its deliberation on the police organization’s proposed budget for 2011. “During budget hearing we will be able to do that. We’ll find out if in the previous years the PNP was provided with enough capital outlay. That is the financial audit that we are seeking," Acop said. He said the chamber will examine in the logistical report of the PNP on whether they prioritized the equipment for the SWAT teams. “We will know that so that we can readily see kung talagang yung PNP ay tinitignan nila yung pangangailangan ng SWAT (if the PNP really gives attention to the needs of SWAT)." Acop had filed House Resolution 292 seeking an investigation on the hostage-taking incident. The House committee on public order and safety will start its investigation after the PNP finished its ongoing probe. “The committee approved to conduct the investigation, however, with the condition that the official copy of the investigation report (of the PNP be furnished to us first) so that it will serve as basis of our inquiry," he said. Earlier, Acop noted PNP’s lack in command, control, negotiation, and assault tactics during the hostage crisis. “Kung titingnan po natin yung mga pangyayari, may mga lapses sa mga binanggit kong apat (If we look at what happened closely, the police committed lapses in those four aspects)," he said. He likewise said that those on the ground should have exercised the line of hierarchy of authority. “Pag nandun yung ground commander, judgment call niya yun kung iuutos niya yun... kung sinangguni niya yun sa crisis management team, yung head ang masusunod (If the ground commander is there, that’s his call, but if the crisis management team is consulted, its head will be followed)," he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV