Hostage crisis affecting police morale, PNP chief admits

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa admitted that criticisms from around the world against the bloody outcome of the August 23 hostage-taking incident in Manila are affecting the morale of the entire police force. “’Yun rin ang isang concern ko as chief of the PNP. I have to see the morale, to look at them, to talk to them. Para hindi naman maapektuhan ‘yung ating normal police functions," a seemingly gloomy Verzosa told reporters on Wednesday. (That's one of my concerns as the chief of the PNP. I have to see the morale, to look at them, to talk to them so that our normal police functions are not affected.) On August 23, dismissed Police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, hijacked a bus carrying 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos. After an 11-hour hostage drama, nine people died— the hostage-taker and eight Hong Kong tourists. The bloody conclusion of the hostage crisis, which has angered many Chinese nationals, has been blamed on the police for their alleged poor handling of the incident. The police chief said that up to now, he still feels very sad about the “unfortunate" outcome of the hostage crisis. “Syempre iisipin natin dahil (sa) impact nung pangyayari sa bansa at sa lahat ng government institutions," he said. (Of course we have to think about the impact of the incident on the country and all the government institutions.) Despite the low morale of the police force, Verzosa assured that this would not hamper the normal operations of the PNP, especially during the holiday season. “Kinausap na namin ‘yung iba’t ibang units para tuloy-tuloy pa rin at di ma-hamper ‘yung ating public services," he said. (We have already spoken with different units to make sure that our public services are not hampered.) He added that he has ordered the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to increase its visibility in malls and other crime-prone areas during the so-called “ber" months— from September to December. –VVP, GMANews.TV