Philippine leader takes police reins
Source: Agencies |
September 4, 2010, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Philippine president took control of the national police yesterday as disgraced senior officials acknowledged that serious lapses had led to the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists who were taken hostage on a hijacked bus last week.
President Benigno Aquino III told reporters he was taking responsibility for the August 23 debacle that drew the ire of the Hong Kong government.
Aquino, facing his first major crisis after barely two months in office, said he was temporarily taking over supervision of the police from the interior secretary.
"At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that has transpired," Aquino said.
An investigation into the botched rescue effort began yesterday with Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno and national police chief Jesus Verzosa saying the authorities' objective was to exhaust the gunman through negotiations because police thought they could save all the lives.
The 11-hour negotiations with the hostage-taker, dismissed police captain Rolando Mendoza, who was demanding his job back, came to an abrupt end when he started shooting his captives after watching his brother being handcuffed by officers for interfering in the negotiations, police said.
Puno said there were "a lot of chances" when sharpshooters could have shot Mendoza but the crisis committee decided "to save everybody."
President Benigno Aquino III told reporters he was taking responsibility for the August 23 debacle that drew the ire of the Hong Kong government.
Aquino, facing his first major crisis after barely two months in office, said he was temporarily taking over supervision of the police from the interior secretary.
"At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that has transpired," Aquino said.
An investigation into the botched rescue effort began yesterday with Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno and national police chief Jesus Verzosa saying the authorities' objective was to exhaust the gunman through negotiations because police thought they could save all the lives.
The 11-hour negotiations with the hostage-taker, dismissed police captain Rolando Mendoza, who was demanding his job back, came to an abrupt end when he started shooting his captives after watching his brother being handcuffed by officers for interfering in the negotiations, police said.
Puno said there were "a lot of chances" when sharpshooters could have shot Mendoza but the crisis committee decided "to save everybody."
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