IIRC review leak: PNoy pal Puno, ex-PNP chief Verzosa not culpable

Palace lawyers who reviewed a report on the August 23 hostage-taking incident in Manila have decided to include the hostage-taker’s brother, also a policeman, and Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III on the list of people to be held liable for the tragedy, GMA News sources said on Friday. Other modifications to the original IIRC recommendations include the exclusion of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico E. Puno, former National Police chief Jesus Verzosa, and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno from the list of culpable people. (See: Aquino: Govt tracing source of leaked review of IIRC report) Puno is a close friend of President Aquino, who put the undersecretary in charge of the national police, which botched the attempt to rescue the tourists from Hong Kong. Eight were killed by hostage taker Rolando Mendoza. Verzosa had left Manila for Cagayan de Oro during the crisis, while Moreno negotiated for the release of several hostages. GMA News sources did not say why their culpability was edited out in the review, set to be released on Monday. Mendoza brother an 'accomplice' Malacañang sources, who requested anonymity, revealed on Friday that the Palace legal team headed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. decided to recommend the filing of “serious illegal detention" charges against SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, a report from GMA News’ Sandra Aguinaldo said. The Palace legal team found that SPO2 Mendoza, brother of dismissed police officer and hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza, acted as an “accomplice" to the crime and should also be held liable for the hostage-taking incident, the sources said.
SPO2 Mendoza was initially left off the list of 13 people the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), headed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, recommended to be held liable for the hostage-taking incident two months ago. (See: FULL TEXT: IIRC Report on August 23, 2010 Rizal Park Hostage-Taking Incident) The IIRC report on the incident was earlier submitted to Malacañang for legal review. President Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III said the results of the Palace review will be released on Monday. (See: Palace sets new date for release of IIRC review) The IIRC findings considered the arrest of SPO2 Mendoza, aired live on television during the August 23 hostage crisis, to have been one crucial factor that enraged the hostage-taker after negotiations broke down, prompting him to start the hostage slaughter. (See: Massacre in nation's heart: Timeline of Manila bus siege) Gonzalez too Palace lawyers who reviewed the IIRC report also recommended the filing of administrative charges against Deputy Ombudsman Gonzalez for “gross neglect of duty," GMA News’ Aguinaldo reported. The Palace legal team will also push for an investigation of Gonzalez’ alleged attempt to extort money from hostage-taker Mendoza, the television report said. One of the negotiators in the hostage-taking crisis, Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador, had told IIRC probers he heard Mendoza cursing at Gonzalez for allegedly demanding a P150,000 bribe from the hostage-taker for immediate action on his case. Gonzalez has repeatedly denied the accusations. (See: Hostage-taker accused deputy Ombudsman of P150K demand) Malacañang will reportedly leave it to the Office of the Ombudsman to act on the recommended sanctions against Gonzalez. —Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV