Palace lawyers done with review of IIRC report

Malacañang's top lawyers are finished reviewing the multi-sectoral investigation report on the August 23 hostage crisis that resulted in the deaths of eight Chinese tourists from Hong Kong, Executive Secretary Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa Jr. said Tuesday. In a chance interview at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Ochoa told reporters that he and chief presidential legal counsel Eduardo de Mesa are finished with the review of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC)’s recommendations as instructed by President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. "We're prepared at any time na tawagin kami ng pangulo (for a meeting with the president) perhaps within the day," Ochoa said. Ochoa, however, declined to comment on the outcome of the legal review, saying he does not want to preempt the president. "As far as we are concerned [it is done] but the president might have some questions later na kelangan naming balikan so we cannot say for sure na tapos na tapos na nga ba," he said. "We cannot say when this will be made public [because] it will depend on the discussion," added Ochoa, noting that the president may still be experiencing a jet lag from his week-long working trip to the US. Aquino and some members of his official delegation arrived at the NAIA around 3 a.m. Before he left for the US last week, Aquino instructed Ochoa and De Mesa to study how the IIRC's recommendations could be operationalized. The IIRC report includes recommended sanctions for the various government and police officials and media practitioners for the poorly-handled hostage situation that drew criticism worldwide. Among those recommended for sanctions are: