The Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) on the August 23 hostage incident that left eight Chinese tourists dead has recommended the filing of charges against several senior government and military officials who were held liable for the tragedy, President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III announced Monday.
Among the officials and media personalities he named were the following:
* Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez
* Former Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa
* Former Manila Police District (MPD) Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay
* National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leocadio Santiago
* Undersecretary Rico Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government;
* Negotiator, Superintendent Orlando Yebra;
* Erwin Tulfo and Michael Rogas, from Radyo Mo Nationwide
He added that "three networks" may also be held liable, but did not give details.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, chairperson of the IIRC, earlier said 12 government and police officials and media practitioners will be held liable for the mishandling of the August 23 hostage crisis.
At a press conference, Aquino approved the release of the report to the public and said it will be posted on the government's Official Gazette, www.gov.ph.
"This morning, we sent a copy of the report to the Chinese ambassador. Now I am authorizing the release of IIRC’s findings of fact to the public, in fulfillment of our administration’s commitment to transparency. It will be published online in the Official Gazette," Aquino said.
He said he has ordered Executive Secretary Paquito "Jojo" Ochoa Jr. and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Ed de Mesa to review the report before he acts on the IIRC's recommendations.
On August 23, a dismissed senior police inspector, Rolando Mendoza, hijacked a bus carrying 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos. He was demanding for his reinstatement and the dismissal of a pending case against him in the Office of the Ombudsman. However, at the end of an 11-hour standoff, Mendoza and eight Hong Kong tourists were killed.
"We are committed to implementing the necessary changes to upgrade the capabilities of our local government units, police and security forces, to ensure the safety of the public," Aquino said.
"We have also been working to review and improve our procedures and protocols for emergency and crisis situations and a draft of a new crisis management manual is now being prepared. This report represents a significant and necessary step in this process," he added.
The Aquino government's handling of the hostage crisis drew criticism from the international and local community.
Analysts and observers pointed out that the police appeared to lacked the skills and equipment to respond properly to the situation.
The media's live coverage of the hostage crisis has also been widely criticized.
Aquino will leave with a 57-member delegation for the United States at 10:30 p.m on Monday. The delegation is expected to return on September 28.
Aquino will visit the US for the following:
* attend the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York;
* meet with US investors for his administration’s public-private partnership (PPP) projects, and
* witness the formal signing of a US$434-million compact grant agreement under the US
government’s Millennium Challenge Account (MCA).
"As I am now leaving on an important mission, I want to emphasize that I do not want make decisions regarding such important matters without a thorough review. I will study their findings upon my return, and decide accordingly," Aquino said.
"I will release the committee’s recommendations alongside the legal team’s evaluation and recommended course of action at that time," he added.
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