Palace defends Santiago appointment

MANILA, Philippines -  Malacañang sees nothing wrong with the appointment of Director Leocadio Santiago Jr., former Metro Manila police commander, as director for operations after he had completed his 11-day suspension.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Santiago was not “promoted” and only assumed a position for his rank.

Santiago had completed his suspension and could already go back to work, he added.

Santiago assumed office on Tuesday, replacing Director Jose Cataluña who retired yesterday at the age of 56.

Robredo: No APO link to Santiago appointment

Santiago’s appointment to a top post has nothing to do with their being brothers in the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo said yesterday.

Santiago was suspended and relieved as Metro Manila police commander after being embroiled in the bungled hostage crisis in Manila last Aug. 23.

“Santiago was suspended and (had) served penalty as recommended by PNP-IAS (Philippine National Police-Internal Affairs Service),” Robredo told The STAR.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., PNP spokesman, said Santiago served his suspension from March 4 to 14.

Robredo said Santiago was not promoted and his designation as director for operations was considered a “lateral movement” in the police organization.

Santiago could no longer be promoted to a higher rank since he has less than a year left in the service.

He turned 55 years old yesterday.

Under Republic Act 8551, police officers with less than one year in the police service cannot be promoted.

Robredo said Santiago had a good service record before the hostage crisis.

“In ten assignments, he failed in one. Should we ignore his previous accomplishments?” he asked in Filipino.

“His capabilities as police officer should be put to good use.”

Mendoza brother blames Lim for deaths

The brother of slain hostage taker Rolando Mendoza told the Hong Kong Coroner’s Court that he could have stopped the killing of eight Hong Kong tourists last Aug. 23 had Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim allowed him to help negotiate with his brother.

Speaking in Makati via video link, Gregorio Mendoza said Lim insisted that he accompany chief police negotiator Orlando Yebra in bringing the letter of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez to his brother.

“If only he (Mayor Lim) gave me and my family the chance to talk to Captain Mendoza, it will not happen that he killed Hong Kong nationals,” he said.

Lawyer Hector Pun Hei, who represents slain tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn, wanted to know why Lim insisted that the letter was good when it did not respond to Captain Mendoza’s demands.

“Did he actually use his brain to assess the contents of the letter?” he asked.

Pun asked why Lim focused on Mendoza’s arrest, when the hostage taker had already fired a warning shot.

“When Mayor Lim ordered that you be taken away, was there any policeman who advised him to focus on the more important issue – that you just heard a warning shot?” he asked.

Pun asked why Lim ordered Mendoza to go with Yebra.

“You were not a negotiator,” he said.

“And being an experienced policeman, you know that outsiders should not participate in the negotiation process.”

Mendoza said he did not know why Lim ordered him to deliver Gutierrez’s letter to his brother.

Nonetheless, he obeyed the order, he added.

Pun also questioned why Mendoza was able to reach the hostage taker twice through his mobile phone.

Mendoza said former Manila police chief Rodolfo Magtibay did not prevent him or the radio reporters from calling his brother during the daylong hostage crisis.

No psychologist had asked him about his brother’s state of mind during the standoff, he added.

Coroner’s Officer Senior Counsel Jat Sew-tong asked why Mendoza deviated from his earlier testimony in the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) hearings.

“You didn’t mention that you will be brought to Tondo, referred to as the killing field in Manila, in the IIRC?” he asked.

“When you were being arrested, you ran to the media. Did you know that your brother has been watching the television? Was there no media blackout?”

Mendoza said he did not mention Tondo in the IIRC hearings because he was not asked that question.

He did not know that his brother was watching the live broadcast of his arrest, he added.

Mendoza said his brother got angry when Yebra claimed that his service pistol had already been returned.

In the IIRC hearing, Mendoza testified that he told his brother not to agree with the negotiators after he voluntarily told him that his service pistol had not been returned.

Yesterday was the 23rd day of the inquest into the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists held hostage inside a tourist bus in front of the Quirino Grandstand.

Five Filipino police officials were supposed to testify earlier via video link.

However, Senior Superintendent Lorlie Arroyo canceled the testimony, without giving any reason.

The five police officials who handled the autopsies were Chief Inspector Daniel Lomboy, PNP Crime Laboratory firearms identification division chief; Superintendent Sabino Bengson; and Chief Inspectors Joseph Palmero, Shanne Lore Dettabali, and Benjamin Venancio Lara.— With Carina Roncesvalles in Hong Kong