What do you expect from the review of the IIRC report?

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: What more is there to expect? The Palace review on the IIRC report is already late.

Gia Felicci Mathilda Alonzo, Vigan City: Justice for the victims. I hope this review report was made honestly and will bring about the justice that the victims’ families are praying for.

Sanitized version

Felix Ramento, USA: For me, the review of the IIRC report by the Palace was not in order. A high-level report such as that of the IIRC must be free from any interference lest its quality and intent be compromised. Therefore, I expect the IIRC report to be diluted because of the Palace review.

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: This is long overdue! It gives me an impression that it might have been “sanitized” to save some people, but at the expense of others. Why not come out with the review of the IIRC report once and for all and let the people know about the findings?

Meant to please

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: If you are from Feati University, you would have read this message in the men’s room: “We aim to please, but please aim.” The IIRC report was made to please the Chinese, but it did not please Mayor Lim and some Pinoys.

Outcome manipulated

Nestor Chan, Metro Manila: Originally, we feared that the IIRC report was meant to appease the anger of the Chinese and Hong Kongers. With the delay in the Palace’s review of the IIRC report, it can be surmised that the government did its best to make it appear that everything was done to avoid the death of the victims.

Nothing

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: Like in previous investigations, nothing will happen to the IIRC report no resolution or punishment. The task of investigating and recommending sanctions to those involved in the awkward handling of the hostage drama was assigned to the DOJ. Findings and recommendations were submitted at the earliest possible time but why did Malacañang still have to review the IIRC report instead of simply implementing the recommendations contained therein? Does the Palace not trust DOJ or are the findings not good to their ears? Your guess is as good as mine.

Esmie Olaes, Cavite City: Nothing.

Administrative, not criminal charges

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: Expect the unexpected. There will be no criminal charges, merely administrative sanctions. But I’m delighted to know that the Ombudsman headed by Merceditas Gutierrez would also be included because this would strengthen the impeachment proceedings against her. Remember that Mendoza singled her out for sitting on his case for so long.

Ishmael Q. Calata, Parañaque City: I expect no new sacred cows to emerge from the Palace’s review of the IIRC report. Based on a leaked draft of the Palace review, some of those recommended for criminal sanctions by the IIRC may just be facing administrative liabilities.

Heads to roll

Louella Brown, Baguio City: I expect some heads to roll, but I also expect others to be spared from sanctions.

Detailed review

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: It should contain details of the hostage debacle and should pinpoint criminal liability of people responsible for the said hostage tragedy.

Trusted men

Dan Adviento, Ilocos Sur: I expect much from people as great as the Executive Secretary and the Presidential Legal Counsel and of course the IIRC, which is composed of people trusted by P-Noy. As they say: “To those whom much is given, much is expected.”

Reassignment of officials, personnel

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: In Philippine politics, leaders with a high-profile status and strong influence remain despite major violations of the law. Therefore, I expect the government to give liable officers another chance by re-assigning them to other positions.

Test of impartiality

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: The review of the IIRC report will put on the spot P-Noy and will test his capacity to make impartial decisions. He will be keenly watched.

Dennis Montealto, Mandaluyong City: If President Aquino really trusts the IIRC, then he should adopt and implement their recommendations no matter who gets axed. It’s not about the Chinese being appeased. It’s about the President showing the way on how he would govern in crisis situations in the next six years.

Germi Sison, Cabanatuan City: It is saddening that the bloody hostage incident has resulted in so many other issues that the real issue is now out of the picture. It’s so sad that DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima and members of the IIRC have done their task in making a review of the hostage incident but their report may not have the approval of the Palace. Unless President Aquino will be objective and let his favorite men face the consequences of their lapses during the hostage rescue, nothing much will happen.

Let the axe fall where it may

Johann Lucas, Quezon City: The IIRC report will identify who is at fault. There was a breakdown in command from the very beginning of the crisis because there was no command at all to speak of. Let the axe fall where it may. It’s long overdue.

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: I expect the Palace review on the IIRC report to remove the cloud of doubt that has been in the minds of the people since the Aug. 23 Quirino Grandstand hostage crisis. Convict the real culprits.

Too much hullabaloo

Jimmy Donton, Palawan: The administration should try to avoid too much collateral damage from the hostage drama. Anyway, it is not the biggest issue facing the Philippines right now but population explosion.

Taking off the heat

Edwin Chinel Monares, Rizal: The Palace review of the IIRC report is a classic management strategy. It is a way of letting things cool off, or buying time. If trusted men and women of the President made the IRRC report, why subject it to review? Are those people who reviewed the report much better than those who actually conducted hearings on the Aug. 23 Quirino hostage crisis? Ito ba ang tuwid na daan?

Charge to experience

Robert Young Jr., San Juan: The IIRC report will be eclipsed by another controversy and will soon be forgotten. Nothing will come out of it either. A crazed ex-cop was responsible for the hostage-taking, that’s it. But an incompetent SWAT team and a number of officials bungled the hostage rescue. We did our best to treat the survivors well and the Philippines profusely apologized to Hong Kong and China for the tragedy. Now, it’s time to charge the whole incident to experience and move on.

Adding fuel to the fire

Ching Gaspar, Laoag City: The Palace review of the IIRC report should show utmost impartiality by exonerating people like Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno who only sought the intervention of the Ombudsman on Mendoza’s case. Moreno was sincere in his desire the help end the hostage crisis but it was the Ombudsman who failed to give Mendoza’s demand. The rescuers lacked teamwork and coordination. It was a case of having too many “cooks” resulting in a disastrous ending. I believe it should be Gregorio Mendoza, brother of the hostage taker, who should receive the gravest punishment because of his hysterical behavior that triggered his brother’s killing rampage.

Ed Gulmatico, Abu Dhabi: I expect that the final report will point to the brother of Capt. Rolando Mendoza (also a policeman himself) as the one who started it all because of his theatrics and desire to be featured on TV. He was not there to pacify his older brother but rather to aggravate the situation and fan the flame of anger and hatred. Of course, some irresponsible members of the media should be charged as well, and Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for fueling the anger and desperation of Capt. Mendoza.

No change

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: It’s final and nothing will change at all. We have to consider the lapses of some government officials who bungled the hostage rescue and let them suffer the consequences of their actions. But we have to follow what is stated in their duties and responsibilities as well, to make sure that justice is served to everybody.

Acceptable results

Frances de Aleli Viloria, Ilocos Sur: We all know that it took months and weeks in order to finish the IIRC report about the hostage-taking incident. Then the team from the Palace reviewed it. Maybe the investigation process was done slowly to make sure that the government will be able to come out with acceptable results that will be submitted to Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.

Allies will be spared

Luisito Vallo, Pangasinan: The way this administration has acted in the past months, I wouldn’t know what to expect, except maybe P-Noy allies getting off the hook. And with the President’s notoriety in bashing GMA, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the former President ends up getting blamed for the hostage crsisis.

Elpidio Que, Vigan: It would not be surprising if some of the recommendations contained in the Palace’s review of the IIRC report would seem to alter those in the original review report to spare the allies of the President from sanctions.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: The original conclusion and recommendations of the IIRC/ De Lima report were not officially published for public scrutiny, thus, this could be construed as a cover-up of the failures of the allies of P-Noy. Obviously, the result of the Palace review on the IIRC report was delayed to cover the potholes created by important appointees who can be referred to as the excess baggage of P-Noy.

P-Noy’s soft side

Desuel Pardo, Mandaluyong City: It is too sad to note that though President Aquino is bent on giving Filipinos the kind of government they deserve, he is too soft in admonishing those who have failed to live up to the people’s expectations. The long-awaited release of the IIRC report that was reviewed for too long shows his “pusong mamon” side.

Cover-up

Elmo Cruz, Manila: The delay in the release of the reviewed IIRC report for no valid reason is an effort to circumvent its findings to protect some personalities who were involved but failed in their roles in the negotiations and rescue operations during the Aug. 23 hostage taking incident.

Sacrificial lamb

Lolong Rejano, Marinduque: I feel that Mayor Lim has become the sacrificial lamb as he had been recommended for administrative charges while others were spared. The long-standing question is, why did P-Noy acquit his two friends, namely DILG Secretary and Undersecretary Jesse Robredo and Rico Puno?

Views expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of The STAR. The STAR does not knowingly publish false information and may not be held liable for the views of readers exercising their right to free expression. The publication also reserves the right to edit contributions to this section as it sees fit.

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