Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Good that he’s brave enough to take the heat, but it’s really humiliating for him to have to take full responsibility for the tragic incident.
Felix Ramento, USA: P-Noy took full responsibility for the Luneta carnage because none of his boys and supposed alter egos wanted to put themselves on the line.
A cover-up?
Noel Alquiza, Metro Manila: It doesn’t look good. It makes him look like he is covering up the mistakes of his officials who should be responsible for their respective areas like Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Manila Police District head Chief Inspector Magtibay. But for the international community, Aquino’s gesture shows that he is indeed a true leader who does not ignore the failure and accountability of his men. Anyway, as P-Noy had said, heads will roll once the probe on the hostage incident is finished.
Jim Veneracion, Naga City: P-Noy’s assumption of command responsibility is worthy of admiration but it’s tantamount to covering up for his subordinates and is a bad precedent.
Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: He’s only covering up the mess created by his men. He could have fired all of them for their blunder. His men’s mess should serve as a wake-up call.
Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: P-Noy should not take sole responsibility for the hostage debacle as doing so would send the signal that he is a weak leader and is protecting the wrongdoing of others.
Command responsibility
Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: He simply means that the buck stops with him. We should also see heads roll.
Celina Denise Javier, Vigan City: As the Commander-in-Chief, P-Noy knows very well that the responsibility rests on his shoulders. We see it as P-Noy’s way of telling all government officials and employees to learn to take responsibility for their actions not only in time of glory but also in time of failure.
Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: The President is a prime member of the social contract on the protection of life, liberty, and property. In the chain of command and responsibility, he holds the highest rank and is responsible for maintaining public order and safety. No one below the President is more powerful than him.
Rolly Palado, Pasig City: It’s bold and daring for Pres. Noy to accept the blame for what happened on that unforgettable day. It’s an act of courage. It’s sad that sometimes, things have to end up at your door because you are the Commander-in-Chief. P-Noy picked people to do their job right, but unfortunately, their ineptitude has to be shouldered by the President.
Eric Gopilan, Parañaque City: It’s his command responsibility. It’s only fitting that he take the blame but his presidency also took the blows.
Richard Decena, Quezon City: Tama po ang pag-ako ng responsibilidad ni P-Noy kasi nagsihugas na ng kamay ang mga dapat managot sa bulilyasong pagligtas sa mga hostages.
Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: The President has to do it to give some semblance of order. None of his egoistic minions is willing to stick his neck on the chopping board.
Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: The head takes full responsibility for the members of the body. The glory of the nation depends upon the character of its leaders and people.
Erwin Espinoza, Pangasinan: Dapat at tama lang. Need I say more?
Lydia Reyes, Bataan: Being the leader of the country, it’s his command responsibility. The hostage crisis is a taste of salt for him.
Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: What our President showed was command responsibility. He believes that his admission will pave the way for the improvement of our police personnel. It is also a wake up call for the entire that presence of mind and continuous training make a lot of difference.
Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: This is a given, whoever is the President. Whether he says it or not, it really is his responsibility.
Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: A good father will take full responsibility if none of his sons would take the blame for their failure to negotiate with the hostage-taker and save the lives of the hostages and the hostage-taker himself. That is the character of a responsible leader. Responsible sons should take the message that they should leave the house to lessen the burden of their father.
Edwin Chinel Monares, Rizal: The President is the Commander-in-Chief so the buck stops with him. I admire the President for taking full responsibility. We expect heads of incompetent officials will roll soon.
Lucas Banzon Madamba, USA: As President, Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Noynoy Aquino must take full responsibility for the incident.
Rey Onate, Palayan City: It’s a basic leadership tenet: The leader is solely responsible for whatever his organization does or fails to do. He must now make heads roll.
Amado Cortez, Pampanga: He must take full responsibility because he continues to mouth his campaign slogan, “Matuwid na daan” but in reality, what’s happening is the opposite.
Jesus Mendoza, Pangasinan: P-Noy must take full responsibility for the hostage debacle as his appointees have not or have belatedly owned responsibility for the incident.
Too late the hero
Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: If done the day after, Sir, I would have taken my hat off.
Editha Monreal, Antipolo City: Too late for that, P-Noy. Your responsibility started long before the first bullet was fired.
Johann Lucas, Quezon City: It’s already too late for that. He should have done it the minute the hostage fiasco happened. The issue now is not about the bungled rescue but the many bloopers that transpired after the incident starting with his smirk, his indifference to the families of the victims, the diplomatic gaffs by his communication team, and other problems that drag this country through the mud.
I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: The taking of responsibility came pretty late. It would’ve been better appreciated if President Aquino did much earlier. But then again, it’s better than never.
Kelvin Casamayor, Ilocos Sur: Would’ve been better if we heard it soon after the incident. But better late than never.
C.B. Manalastas, Manila: Too late the hero. Ninoy died to save our country from the Marcos regime. P-Noy took full responsibility for the hostage drama to save the heads of his Cabinet men who know nothing.
No more finger-pointing
Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: Noynoy’s act of taking full responsibility for what happened is meant to put an end to finger-pointing, blaming, endless investigations and the grandstanding habit of our honorable senators and congressmen. No wonder leaders of First World countries trust President Aquino and look up to him as a leader who can implement real change in our country.
Missing in action
Rose Leobrera, Manila: Then, palpak pala siya and he obviously failed to fulfill his obligation. Where was he during the critical hours? If it was indeed his responsibility, he should have taken steps so that the lives of the Hong Kong tourists would be saved.
Take the cue
Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: P-Noy should take the cue from famous leaders from the past. “I accept the responsibility but not the blame,” said former US Pres. Richard Nixon. It pays to be aware of how others erred in the past and learn from those who made positive changes in history. If P-Noy was really in a restaurant eating while the Luneta hostage crisis was going on, then he’s like Nero playing his fiddle while Rome was burning.
True leader
Cris Rivera, Rizal: By taking responsibility for what happened, P-Noy showed the kind of leader he is. Better yet, heads must roll now.
Ruel Bautista, Laguna: It’s not very often that a President would do what P-Noy did. Ninoy died for us and Cory gave us back our democracy. P-Noy would give us more.
Ric Vergara, Calamba: The hardest task in the world is the admission of mistake. Saludo ako kay P-Noy sa kayang sinseridad.
Louella Brown, Baguio City: P-Noy manifested true leadership and humility by taking full responsibility for the recent Luneta bus siege debacle.
Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: This is the attitude of a leader who hides no lies in his leadership. P-Noy, despite the failure of his subordinates to handle the hostage-taking drama properly, is ready to accept the fault. He stands before his men even in rough waters. Is that not commendable?
Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: It was the most honorable thing for a revered leader like him to do. The operation was bungled by his underlings.
Shock absorber
Leonard Villa, Batac City: P-Noy couldn’t do otherwise considering the adverse effects of the hostage-taking brouhaha. P-Noy is the shock absorber of the PNP’s incompetence.
Heads must roll
Norberto Robles, Taguig City: Noynoy taking the blame is still not enough. Heads must roll, particularly of those who bungled the rescue operation.
Elpidio Que, Vigan: There is no doubt that P-Noy’s act of taking the blame for the recent Luneta bus siege debacle manifests humility. But there are also plenty of suspicious minds who think that beneath the veneer of this humility is the violation of the President’s vow of making the heads of those who made mistakes roll. I am not a lawyer but I do not think it is legal to handcuff somebody who is not under arrest. That is like putting the donkey ahead of the cart.
Amateurs
Roque Paghinayan, Metro Manila: Pres. Aquino should take full responsibility for the incident. His advisers are first-timers and have no experience.
Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: He has no other option but to take full responsibility, especially when it was exposed that DILG Usec. Rico Puno has no other qualification except that he is P-Noy’s close buddy.
Cecile Reynon, Occidental Mindoro: Dapat lang. He took away the PNP responsibility from Robredo then gave it to Puno who has no experience at all in local governance.
Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: While it is noble for a leader to take the blame in a fiasco, P-Noy should start cracking the whip on his amateur officials.
Very unpresidential
John Andrew de Guzman, Taytay City: That’s unpresidential. It should be the President’s men taking the bullet for him. But then it’s also a reflection of P-Noy’s humility.
Time to move on
Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: We have million problems, so why still talk about the hostage crisis?
No choice
Elmo Cruz, Manila: None of P-Noy’s appointed men would like to take the blame, hence he is left with no other choice but to take full responsibility for the hostage incident.
Walk the talk
Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: And then what? Be a President and walk the talk, P-Noy.
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