PNoy on hostage tragedy: I am responsible for everything

(Updated 9:27 pm) President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III said Friday he is taking full responsibility for the bungled handling of the August 23 Manila hostage crisis that claimed the lives of eight tourists from Hong Kong. "At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that has transpired," Aquino said in an interview with reporters in Manila. The President made the statement in defense of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who faces possible grilling from the Commission on Appointments on the outcome of the hostage-taking incident.
On August 23, a bus carrying 25 passengers, including 21 tourists from Hong Kong, was hijacked at the Quirino Grandstand by dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza. Mendoza and eight Hong Kong tourists were killed after an 11-hour standoff. The Philippine National Police, which handled the hostage crisis, is an attached agency of the DILG. The PNP took the lead in rescue attempts which have been widely lambasted as a failure in local and international media outlets. On Thursday, Senator Francis Escudero said Robredo might have a hard time in getting the nod of the bicameral body because of his poor handling of the hostage incident. (See related story: Escudero: DILG chief’s handling of hostage crisis may affect CA confirmation) Mishandled crisis Robredo was reportedly tasked by the President to take charge of matters concerning the local government, while DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno would oversee police matters and public safety issues, including critical incidents such as hostage-taking. (See related story: DILG Usec Puno is gun enthusiast, longtime PNoy friend) Puno was "verbally" assigned by Aquino to supervise the PNP, without a formal written order, said Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. When Robredo was appointed, they were still undecided about how to best handle the DILG, Aquino explained. He said that during that time, there was a need to "improve" local government units (LGU) and "consolidate" the security forces. Aquino admitted that he asked the DILG chief to "concentrate" on the LGUs. "There are so many things that have to be tackled by that agency especially in delivery of services. I asked him to concentrate on that," he said. Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr. confirmed that it was Puno, not Robredo, who was in direct communication with police on the ground during the hostage crisis. "Bakit noong nagkaroon ng problema doon, tila nagkaroon ng turuan at sisihan kung kaninong jurisdiction ang partikular na sektor, ahensiya at opisina? " Escudero asked. (Why was it that when this problem arose, there seemed to have been finger-pointing and blame-laying on who had jurisdiction over a specific sector, agency, and office?) "All we are asking is for officials to be responsible within their respective departments and jurisdictions," the senator added. On Friday, the beginning of hearings to probe the hostage tragedy, Puno told the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) that he lacked training in how to deal with hostage situations. "I am not capable of handling hostage negotiations. I am not trained to handle hostage-taking," he said. The Manila Police District, under the PNP, was in charge of the botched rescue attempt of the Hong Kong tourists. The local crisis management committee was headed by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who worked closely with Puno throughout the stand-off. Robredo will have to explain why there was a need to divide the functions of the DILG, making it difficult to handle the hostage tragedy, Escudero said. "Secretary Robredo will be able to explain," Aquino said in his Friday interview. In the meantime, Aquino said he would retain direct supervision of the PNP, until such time that they have "addressed other concerns specifically promises to the informal settlers of our country." "There's a need for a comprehensive plan there," he said. Militants welcome Aquino admission Meanwhile, militants welcomed Aquino's statement assuming full responsibility for the hostage crisis, even as they demanded the resignation of Puno following his admission that he treated the incident as a "local" issue. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan also urged Robredo to inhibit himself from the investigating panel as a matter of prudence. “That is a welcome response. The people have waited nearly two weeks for that statement. It is only correct that he assumes responsibility for a crisis that has serious national and international implications," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said on the Bayan website Friday afternoon. Bayan said the apparent lack of national intervention during the hostage crisis stems from the flawed assessment that the incident was a local crisis. “It was obvious that the Luneta hostage crisis was anything but a local crisis. The fact that it involved foreign nationals and was already being broadcast worldwide, it should have from the onset been considered as a major national concern with serious international implications. Puno’s admission should be enough reason for him to quit his post," Reyes said. “With all due respect to Sec. Robredo, it may be prudent for him to step down as part of the investigative panel after the revelations of his subordinate Puno. This is to avoid any perception that the accountability of DILG officials will be glossed over," Reyes said. - with Kimberly Tan, VVP/RSJ/JV/HS, GMANews.TV