Philippine prosecutor fired over bus hijack
Source: Agencies |
April 2, 2011, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AN anti-graft prosecutor in the Philippines has been fired for gross misconduct over his handling of a reinstatement appeal by the dismissed policeman who later hijacked a bus with Hong Kong tourists, officials said yesterday.
The bus hijacking at a Manila park lasted 11 tense hours before the gunman opened fire on his hostages. A Manila SWAT team killed the hostage-taker, but not before eight tourists died.
The events, televised live, shocked Hong Kong. Thousands of Chinese tourists canceled bookings to Philippine resorts.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III's dismissal reflected the administration's commitment to hold accountable those responsible for the incident.
A 15-page decision issued by President Benigno Aquino III's office said there was unjustified delay and clear neglect of duty in the resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by hijacker Rolando Mendoza on his dismissal from the police. The appeal should have been acted upon within five days, but it spanned nine months.
The decision also said there was substantial evidence to prove Gonzalez committed gross misconduct for showing undue interest in taking over the case, lending credence to Mendoza's accusation during the hostage incident that Gonzalez was demanding 150,000 pesos (US$3,500) in exchange for a favorable decision.
Ochoa said Gonzalez's gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct amounted to an arbitrary and tyrannical exercise of authority and betrayal of public trust.
A Hong Kong inquest last week concluded Philippine officials contributed to or caused the deaths of the tourists.
The bus hijacking at a Manila park lasted 11 tense hours before the gunman opened fire on his hostages. A Manila SWAT team killed the hostage-taker, but not before eight tourists died.
The events, televised live, shocked Hong Kong. Thousands of Chinese tourists canceled bookings to Philippine resorts.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III's dismissal reflected the administration's commitment to hold accountable those responsible for the incident.
A 15-page decision issued by President Benigno Aquino III's office said there was unjustified delay and clear neglect of duty in the resolution of the motion for reconsideration filed by hijacker Rolando Mendoza on his dismissal from the police. The appeal should have been acted upon within five days, but it spanned nine months.
The decision also said there was substantial evidence to prove Gonzalez committed gross misconduct for showing undue interest in taking over the case, lending credence to Mendoza's accusation during the hostage incident that Gonzalez was demanding 150,000 pesos (US$3,500) in exchange for a favorable decision.
Ochoa said Gonzalez's gross neglect of duty and gross misconduct amounted to an arbitrary and tyrannical exercise of authority and betrayal of public trust.
A Hong Kong inquest last week concluded Philippine officials contributed to or caused the deaths of the tourists.
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