Aquino considered talking to hostage-taker — DILG usec

President Benigno Aquino III considered talking face to face with hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza during the hostage crisis in Manila last week, but was advised to let the negotiators on the ground deal with the dismissed police officer, a top official said Thursday. Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Escalona Puno, reportedly in charge of the police during the incident, said that Aquino seriously considered going to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park, where the hijacked tourist bus was parked, but was dissuaded by his officials since such a move “is not part of the protocol."
“Naisip niya as early as 2 p.m., ‘Ano kaya kung pumunta na ako diyan at sabihin ko (sa hostage-taker) na marami ka nang naiistorbong tao at maraming mawawala sa atin?'," he said in an exclusive interview with GMA News’ Jun Veneracion aired over “24 Oras." (The President thought, as early as 2 p.m.: ‘What if I went there and told the hostage-taker he was disrupting so many people’s lives and we will suffer tremendous losses?’)

Puno said he was one of the officials who told Aquino not to proceed with the idea, since it might set a precedent where hostage-takers would ask for the President’s presence during similar situations in the future. “Syempre, sabi namin na ganoon, ‘Mr. President, hindi kasama na protocol ‘yan’ ," he said. (Of course, we told him, ‘Mr. President, that’s not part of our protocols.’) Puno even advised Aquino not to worry about the incident, which they thought would end peacefully. “Nung naghiwalay kami, sinabi namin: ‘Matulog kayo [Aquino] at gigisingin namin kayo kapag tapos na ito’," he said. (When we adjourned, we told him: ‘Get some sleep and we’ll wake you up when this is over.) The 11-hour hostage drama, however, ended with nine people killed— the hostage-taker and eight Hong Kong tourists. (See: Hostage crisis ends in bloody carnage; 8 hostages dead) The Aquino administration drew intense flak for the way the hostage crisis was handled. Even Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang expressed disappointment over the bloody outcome of the incident, which he called “a major tragedy." Fake reinstatement letter In the same interview, Puno said he suggested signing a fake reinstatement letter for Mendoza, who wanted to go back to the police force and get his retirement benefits despite the several charges he was facing. “Maski na sa level ko as undersecretary, I will sign… Tapos, nag-isip-isip na naman, kinonfer din kay General Santiago, sa ground commander, tapos e, naghold back kami," he said, referring to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Leocandio Santiago. (Even at my level as undersecretary, I will sign. But then, we thought about it some more, and also conferred with General Santiago and with the ground commander, and then, decided to hold back.) He added that negotiators advised him not to use deceptive tactics against the hostage-taker, since it may affect the credibility of the negotiations. Puno also admitted making a mistake when he let the Manila police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit handle the assault on the bus when Mendoza started firing gunshots, instead of employing the Special Action Force (SAF). He likewise said he is willing to leave his post if President Aquino deems him responsible for the bloody outcome of the hostage incident. “Kung hindi na ako kailangan, wala namang problema sa akin ‘yun," he said. (If I’m not needed anymore, I don't have a problem with that.) As undersecretary for peace and order, Puno was reportedly the one in direct communication with police on the ground during the hostage crisis. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo was supposedly assigned to monitor the participation of other government officials during the hostage crisis. (See sidebar) Puno is scheduled to face an incident investigation and review committee on Friday to answer clarificatory questions on what really transpired during the hostage-taking.— Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV