Chinese envoy meets with P-Noy anew

MANILA, Philippines - Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao met with President Aquino again yesterday even as Malacañang expressed satisfaction with the way the investigation into the Aug. 23 hostage-taking incident was being conducted.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said details of the meeting were confidential, but he was optimistic that the ongoing probe would shed light on the issues surrounding the incident.

“Number one, we can see a number of gaps in the incident that occurred. (President Aquino) talked about failed expectations. You and I, we’re all just learning from the whole investigation... what went on, on that day,” Lacierda said.

He said the President was definitely “very, very dissatisfied, disappointed, sorry,” because he was made to expect certain things that did not happen.

The President earlier maintained that he has no regrets taking full responsibility for the hostage fiasco since no one would be absolved of liability anyway.

He said he made the statement as the Commander-in-Chief who appointed people to their current positions, including those in the Philippine National Police.

Aquino said no one would be free from any liability, which is the reason the investigation was being conducted.

“We are completing the investigation. As a matter of fact, that is the process to determine what a particular person did at the time of the incident, what role he really played. After that, of course those who had shortcomings would be slapped the penalties,” he said.

Marcos: Let’s move on

Meanwhile, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said leadership problems in the police hierarchy contributed to the failure of the recent hostage-taking incident.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the annual Singkaban Fiesta in Malolos, Bulacan, Marcos virtually absolved the police and said that since the incident already happened, the country must move on.

He added that the police should have reminded journalists of guidelines in covering delicate incidents like the Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking.

Marcos wondered why despite industry guidelines in covering similar incidents, it was fed live on television.

He said the investigation being headed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima is enough and there is no need for a congressional or Senate inquiry. – With Dino Balabo