nsisting that his conscience is clear, Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, Manila Police District (MPD) Chief, said he will not resign over Monday’s bloody hostage crisis.
Magtibay said he ordered the assault on hostage taker dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza to prevent what he called a worst-case scenario.
“Wala, wala, wala akong intention kasi malinis ang konsensya ko. Yung ginawang pag-assault ay kagustuhan ko at ng aking kasamahan, maiwasan ang tinatawag nating worst scenario (No, no. I have no intention to resign because my conscience is clear. The order to assault came from me, and it was to prevent a worst-case scenario)," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio.
Magtibay also said he went on leave because he did not want to unduly influence the work of a high-level police group investigating the incident.
Senior Superintendent Francisco Villaroman replaced Magtibay as MPD chief.
“Siguro hanggang di matapos, magkakaroon ng liwanag ang bakasyon muna ako (Until the investigation is finished, I will remain on leave)," Magtibay said.
11-hour hostage drama
On August 23, in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus carrying 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos. After an 11-hour bloody drama, nine people died — Mendoza and eight tourists.
The hostage drama turned bloody when the hostage-taker reportedly became angry after seeing his brother being arrested on a live television broadcast of the incident.
The bus driver escaped and shouted as he ran that everyone on the bus was already dead. It was then that the police launched an assault on the bus.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said Magtibay, being the over-all ground commander in Monday's hostage crisis, was the one who gave the assault orders.
"The assault order was given after the driver escaped from the bus said and claimed patay na lahat (everyone was dead)," Cruz said.
Lack of experience
Magtibay admitted he was in control of the task force that ordered the assault, adding he was aware that the bus had a television set that allowed Mendoza to monitor the developments at the time.
Magtibay also admitted it was the first time for the police team to try to break tempered glass bus’ windows and windshield.
“Inaamin ko walang experience ang naging assumption ng assault team kayang kaya dahil ito ay glass (I admit the assault team had no experience dealing with tempered glass)," he said.
“Yung worst scenario lahat pagbabarilin ng hostage taker at wala tayong nailigtas sa loob ng bus (The worst-case scenario is if the hostage taker shot all the hostages and we could not rescue any of them)," he added.
Sad for Filipinos in Hong Kong
However, Magtibay said he felt sad for Filipinos in Hong Kong who are reportedly feeling the brunt of the incident.
“Ako ay nalulungkot. Alam natin na hindi dapat may ganoon ang trato sa kanila. At kaya nga sinisikap natin matapos agad ang ginagawang investigation para ito magkaroon ng malinaw na conclusion at punan ang pagkukulang di nagawa ng ating mga tao na involved sa operation (I feel sad for them. We know they deserve better treatment. That’s why we must finish the investigation and make reforms soonest)," he said. – VVP
