SWAT leaders put on leave as standoff examined
Source: Agencies |
01:37 UTC+8 August 26, 2010
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COMMANDERS of a botched rescue of a hijacked Philippine tourist bus have been ordered on leave and weapons from the raid tested to determine responsibility for the deaths of eight hostages, police said yesterday.
President Benigno Aquino said the SWAT team's slow-motion attempts to storm the bus, telecast live around the world, had left him exasperated, but he defended his management of the crisis.
"There was an expectation that the appropriate forces would be utilized for this, who have been trained," Aquino said. "This thing shouldn't have happened."
The kidnapper, a disgruntled ex-policeman, was shot dead by police and eight of the hostages were also killed - either by the gunman or in the rescue - prompting anger in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and demands for a thorough investigation.
The crisis is seen as an early test of Aquino's leadership, which was questioned before his election win in May, given a lackluster political career. His low profile during the crisis - Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said he could not get his call returned on Monday - has drawn criticism.
Aquino, who rang Tsang on Tuesday, said he had monitored the situation but was also dealing with other issues.
He also said he had been advised not to be seen reacting to the hostage-taker, and had thought it best to leave experts to handle the crisis.
"You had others who were grandstanding, others who became talking heads without the necessary knowledge, without even thinking through the impact of their statements, and I wanted to set an example to everybody," Aquino said.
Yesterday was declared a day of mourning in the Philippines, and most survivors, relatives of the victims, and the victims' bodies returned to Hong Kong on an evening flight.
An 18-year-old who underwent brain surgery remained in intensive care in Manila, alongside his mother, Amy Leung, another survivor. Three members of their family, Canadian citizens, were killed, including the father and two daughters.
Hong Kong Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said yesterday that local police may launch their own investigation now that the eight bodies are in local custody.
President Benigno Aquino said the SWAT team's slow-motion attempts to storm the bus, telecast live around the world, had left him exasperated, but he defended his management of the crisis.
"There was an expectation that the appropriate forces would be utilized for this, who have been trained," Aquino said. "This thing shouldn't have happened."
The kidnapper, a disgruntled ex-policeman, was shot dead by police and eight of the hostages were also killed - either by the gunman or in the rescue - prompting anger in Chinese mainland and Hong Kong and demands for a thorough investigation.
The crisis is seen as an early test of Aquino's leadership, which was questioned before his election win in May, given a lackluster political career. His low profile during the crisis - Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang said he could not get his call returned on Monday - has drawn criticism.
Aquino, who rang Tsang on Tuesday, said he had monitored the situation but was also dealing with other issues.
He also said he had been advised not to be seen reacting to the hostage-taker, and had thought it best to leave experts to handle the crisis.
"You had others who were grandstanding, others who became talking heads without the necessary knowledge, without even thinking through the impact of their statements, and I wanted to set an example to everybody," Aquino said.
Yesterday was declared a day of mourning in the Philippines, and most survivors, relatives of the victims, and the victims' bodies returned to Hong Kong on an evening flight.
An 18-year-old who underwent brain surgery remained in intensive care in Manila, alongside his mother, Amy Leung, another survivor. Three members of their family, Canadian citizens, were killed, including the father and two daughters.
Hong Kong Secretary for Security Ambrose Lee said yesterday that local police may launch their own investigation now that the eight bodies are in local custody.
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