Palace: Aquino not resigning despite 'admission' over hostage crisis

Despite taking full responsibility for the Aug. 23 Manila hostage crisis, President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is not resigning from his post, Malacañang said on Saturday. Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma also stressed Aquino’s admission does not mean automatic absolution of the officials who bungled the hostage crisis. “Hindi siya magbibitiw. Tumanggap siya ng malinaw na mandato, he has the clear mandate from more than 15 million Filipinos (He is not resigning. He received a clear mandate from more than 15 million Filipinos)," Coloma said on government-run dzRB radio. Besides, he said, Aquino made the admission in the “context" that he is accountable to the Filipino people and is thus ultimately responsible for what happened because the buck stops with him. “[Government] officials under him are not automatically absolved by his admission. The president is merely emphasizing he is accountable to the people who elected him. That was the context of his statement)," he said. He also indicated Aquino expects officials in the executive department to cooperate with senators investigating the incident. “Karapatan ng senador yan at ang ating mga opisyal patuloy magpapaliwanag at tutugon sa kanilang tanong (Senators have the right to get to the bottom of this on their own, and our officials will explain and answer the questions that will be thrown on them)," he said. Coloma also defended the “timing" of Aquino’s statement, saying it is still timely because it was meant to show he is a leader who takes responsibility for his actions. “His statement may have come more than a week after the incident, but it is still timely. It shows he wants to live up to the expectations of the Filipinos who voted for him as a leader who takes responsibility for his actions," Coloma said in Filipino. On Friday, Aquino said he is taking full responsibility for the hostage negotiation fiasco. He also said he is taking control of the Philippine National Police for the moment. "At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that has transpired," he told reporters. Eight Hong Kong tourists and their hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, were killed in the 11-hour standoff at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Philippine officials are presently investigating the incident, while trying to get relations with China and Hong Kong back to normal. Control over PNP Meanwhile, Coloma said there was no irregularity in Aquino’s taking control of the Philippine National Police for the moment, saying the President as Chief Executive “has the power of control and supervision over all dept and agencies in the executive branch, including the PNP." “He did not bypass or override and is not bypassing or overriding the power of Napolcom (National Police Commission) when he said he is taking control of PNP. It is in the context of this exercise of power, he is exercising his chief executive powers," he said. “Ang pag-exercise niyang yan (By exercising that power), he is not removing any power or authority from his subordinates," he added. Also, Coloma said Aquino is still studying a proposal to give Hong Kong a “solidarity offering" to show the Philippines’ sympathy with the victims. Otherwise, he said Aquino already offered apologies to Hong Kong, and his apology had been “acknowledged" by Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang. “The President is still studying the aspect of providing financial assistance. He is waiting for the recommendation of a panel he tasked to study the matter," he said. On Friday, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said Aquino ordered a closer study of the planned solidarity offering from the Philippine government to Hong Kong. She said Aquino did not arrive at a decision on the matter Thursday, saying he is concerned about the possible political and diplomatic implications of the offering. “Inatasan kami ni Pangulong Aquino na pag-aralang mabuti dahil may sensitibong implication ito sa pulitika at diplomasya. Ang intention, ipakita ang pakikiisa at simpatiya sa biktima (Aquino ordered us to study the matter further. There are sensitive implications on politics and diplomacy. The intention is to show our sympathy and solidarity with the families of the victims)," she said in an interview on dwIZ. Soliman said they may come up with a recommendation over the weekend at the earliest. “Sensitibo ang bagay at wala pang decision, ayoko mag-speculate muna (This is a sensitive matter and there is no decision yet. I do not want to speculate on it)," she said. — LBG, GMANews.TV