President Benigno Aquino III made an unscheduled visit to Metro Manila police headquarters in Taguig City Wednesday afternoon to inspect the police’s equipment and check as well on the ongoing forensic exams on the ill-fated bus at the center of the August 23 hostage tragedy.
"Nag-inspect siya sa Logistics Support Service ... Tiningnan niya ang mga reported na may diperensyang gamit (He inspected the Logistics Support Service. He checked reports of defective equipment)," National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leocadio Santiago Jr. said in an interview on dzBB radio Wednesday evening.
While Santiago did not say if Aquino indeed found the equipment defective or lacking, he said Aquino took notes during the inspection.
The lack of equipment has been tagged as one reason behind the poor handling of the tragic hostage crisis in Manila last week.
Eight Hong Kong tourists and their hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, were killed at the end of the 11-hour standoff.
"Nakita ko lang sa kanyang intensyon siguraduhing maayos at tama ang kapulisan, at isa na po ang gamit (From what I saw, his intention was to ensure that our police forces are in order, and that includes proper equipment)," Santiago said of Aquino's visit.
Ongoing forensic exam
A separate report by Chino Gascon in GMA News’ “24 Oras" said Aquino also checked on the forensic examination being conducted by the police on the Hong Thai Travel bus, where the Hong Kong tourists were held hostage. The report said the President arrived at around 4:30 p.m. and went straight to the NCRPO’s Logistics Support Service, where the bus is being kept. Members of the media were not allowed to get inside the LSS, where Aquino reportedly stayed a little over 30 minutes and left shortly after 5:00 p.m. A separate report on dzRH radio said Aquino's visit was announced to Malacañang reporters only Wednesday afternoon. Police training
Before Aquino arrived, over 200 Metro Manila police were undergoing a Critical Incident Management Training, to train them on how to respond to critical situations such as the August 23 hostage crisis. This was after police authorities received flak also for their supposed mishandling of the hostage crisis, resulting in the death of the tourists. Authorities simulated a hostage drama, complete with a cast of characters that included “hostages" and “media people." Reporters were not allowed to cover the simulation. On Friday, those who underwent the training will stage a Capability Demonstration to show what they have learned, to be witnessed by Aquino himself.—Jerrie M. Abella/JV
