GMA: Condolences to families but no overkill in tower siege

President Arroyo condoled yesterday with the family of former Air Transportation Office chief Panfilo Villaruel even as she insisted it was "no overkill" when police commandos attacked the control tower of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and shot and killed Villaruel and his aide, Navy Lt. (sg) Ricardo Catchillar, before dawn Saturday.

"I condole with his family," she said in a statement read over radio station dzMM.

"I shall not speculate about the intentions of Colonel Villaruel or impugn his memory. He may have had noble intentions, but he crossed the line of the law, and dearly paid for it," the President said.

Mrs. Arroyo said the government is empowered by law to take measures to protect vital installations like the NAIA control tower from any intruder.

"A national security installation was under threat, and it is incumbent upon the authorities to immediately act to regain command and control of it by the most expeditious means, including the use of extreme force," she said.

"We have basic rules of security, and one of these is that critical installations or facilities must never be compromised, especially if this would pose a serious threat to public safety. This does not necessarily need an order from the President," the Chief Executive said.

Mrs. Arroyo said there was a "clear and present" danger to air traffic last Saturday, and that a decision had to be immediately made on how to end the standoff at the control tower.

"There were not debatable scenarios, and I convened a crisis committee simply to monitor developments and not to interfere with decisions on the ground," she said.

"Transport and aviation authorities followed the correct security doctrine by immediately planning and executing an assault," the President said. — Marichu Villanueva, James Mananghaya