IIRC starts second phase of probe of Aug. 23 hostage-taking

MANILA, Philippines - The incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) has started the second phase of its investigation into the Aug. 23 hostage fiasco to recommend reforms to prevent another hostage incident, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said yesterday.

De Lima, as chair of the IIRC, said the five-man panel reconvened on Tuesday, a month after Malacañang officially made public its first report on findings and recommendations on the incident.

“We already started table review of existing rules of PNP (Philippine National Police) and Napolcom (National Police Commission). After this, we will conduct public hearings,” De Lima said.

De Lima said the panel had started to review the guidelines, protocols and manuals, including the crisis management manual and the hostage-taking operation manuals of the police, as well as rules of Napolcom on cases of policemen.

De Lima revealed the panel is now deciding on the personalities that would be invited for investigation. Invitations would be sent after two weeks.

She said the second part of their probe is “more substantial and very important” since it involves “institutional review that will really look at the spectrum of processes and proceedings and policies of the protocols of the PNP.”

“The target is to be able to enhance their capacity in addressing crisis situations, not just hostage taking but other crisis situations,” she said.

De Lima said the IIRC was given 60 days for this second part of the investigation. 

Since the deadline had already lapsed, De Lima said they would try to wrap it up within the month. “We will not waste time,” she said.

In its initial report, the IIRC found several personalities liable for the botched police operations during the hostage crisis. Among them are Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno, former national police chief Jesus Verzosa, former Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leocadio Santiago, and other police officials involved in the rescue operation.

The IIRC also recommended legal actions against some journalists and broadcast firms for airing the entire hostage drama live that could have added to the agitation of the hostage taker.

The IIRC recommended criminal actions but Malacañang had watered it down by just recommending the filing of administrative charges.

A sacked police officer seized a busload of Hong Kong tourists in Manila on Aug. 23 in a desperate bid to get his job back and be cleared of extortion charges. 

Eight of the tourists and the hostage taker, dismissed policeman Rolando Mendoza, were killed when ill-prepared police commandos launched a rescue attempt riddled with errors in a drama played out live on television. 

The Malacañang recommendations were received coolly by the Hong Kong government, which expressed disappointment.

Even two months after the incident, the Hong Kong government continues to advise its residents against traveling to the Philippines. The Hong Kong Security Bureau still maintains its black travel alert to the Philippines, citing “severe threat.” – With Carina Roncesvalles