House to review military, police grievance system

MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives is set to conduct an inquiry into the grievance mechanism system of the police and military.

Cebu Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing said the House Committee on National Defense has scheduled an inquiry into the grievance procedure in the police and military in an effort to determine what could have caused soldiers and policemen to break from the chain of command and air their complaints outside the system.

Quisumbing noted the slain hostage taker, former police senior inspector Rolando Mendoza, was complaining that he was dismissed from the service even while the complaint against him is still pending before the Ombudsman.

Mendoza decided to force the issue by hijacking a bus full of Hong Kong tourists to demand his reinstatement to the police force. His demands, however, came to a bloody end on Monday.

“We have to review if the grievance system within the military and police is working. We must review the system to insure that the chain of command is working,” Quisumbing said.

Quisumbing also cited the case of Rear Admiral Feliciano Angue, a decorated Navy officer who complained before the media that he was unjustly demoted and placed on floating status.

He said the cases of Angue and Mendoza are an indication of the loss of confidence in the grievance system in the military and the police.

Quisumbing also told a news forum that he would file a bill seeking to provide the guidelines for media coverage for hostage incidents and other crisis situations.

“This (bill) is not intended to curtail press freedom,” he told reporters. “The primary intention is to protect the lives of men and women in uniform and civilians in jeopardy.”

Quisumbing appealed to the media to avoid disclosing vital information that could compromise the security of people involved in a crisis such as a hostage situation.

He said the media are allowed to reveal such information after the crisis has been resolved.

“In any case, our bill guarantees that once the crisis is settled, media will have full access to information about the police or military operations and coverage shall not be restricted,” Quisumbing explained.

At the same time, the Cebu lawmaker defended President Aquino for lying low during the hostage crisis.

He said if the hostage taker was aware that the President is taking a direct hand in the negotiations, he might make impossible demands that may worsen the situation.

“The presence of President Aquino may open a floodgate of demands that may become a precedent in future hostage taking situations,” Quisumbing said.