MANILA, Philippines - The spokesperson of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo revealed that the government’s crisis management mechanisms would have been discussed with the Aquino administration had they agreed to a proposed joint Cabinet meeting before June 30, 2010.

Elena Bautista-Horn was asked by ABS-CBN News about existing government protocols for crisis management, and if these would have been among those turned over in a joint Cabinet meeting last June.

“Probably, this would have been discussed (sa joint Cabinet meeting),” she said.

Horn further explained that former President Joseph Estrada himself had a memorandum circular for crisis management during his time.

It may be recalled that President Benigno Aquino III refused the offer of a joint Cabinet meeting.

Instead, the inaugural transition meetings between the Arroyo and Aquino teams also were confined to matters on vacant government positions, inaugural arrangements and the use of the Bahay Pangarap, now Aquino's residence in Malacañan. 
These were separate informal meetings attended by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa and Presidential Management Staff Director-General Julia Abad.

Horn was also asked about Presidential Communications Group Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma’s comment that crisis protocols were not in the Philippine National Police (PNP) transition program. Horn said there really was none because there was no change in PNP leadership, noting Jesus Verzosa was retained as PNP director-general. 

“Hindi yun tinurn-over. Narinig ko interview ni Coloma, wala sa transition report [crisis protocols] involving sa PNP. Hindi talaga transition kasi they retained Verzosa, ano transition, pareho chief PNP?”

Arroyo's crisis management style

Horn recalled to ABS-CBN News the Arroyo administration's own protocols and style for crisis management.

She said there was a situation room at the basement of the Palace.

“Nasa main Palace siya para namomonitor. Kahit gabi, she can walk into the situation room. Madaming TV screens to monitor kasi binabantayan natin, lumalabas sa TV stations tapos teleconferencing, so kung kailangan kausapin ng Pangulo ang Cabinet, ground commanders, pwede," she explained.

“Ang set up namin, 24 hours tumatakbo para ang Pangulo, madaling pumunta kahit hating-gabi. President Arroyo can walk into the room and get updates.”

Horn said the situation room was normally manned by the National Security Adviser and the Office of the Executive Secretary,  with representatives from the intelligence community, the government operations sector, and media management.

“It gets reactivated. Tuwing may krisis, kahit bagyo na-activate po iyon,” she said.

She also said that the Cabinet cluster on security would immediately be convened for status reports.

However, Cabinet members with oversight functions on governance aspects that may be hit by the crisis sometimes volunteer to come in without being summoned.

“Noon kasing panahon namin, pagka may krisis, Cabinet secretaries don’t wait to be called, automatic lahat tumatakbo sa Palasyo at pumupunta sa situation room, kahit di miyembro ng security cluster tumatakbo. Kunyari tourism, economic managers, kung may components na mededehado, [like] DSWD [Department of Social Welfare and Development].”

'Arroyo was hands on'

Bautista said Arroyo was hands on.

“Depending on the extent of the crisis, you’ll have to call on the resources of multiple agencies. Who best to do that but the highest official? Pag biglang kailangan MMDA [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority] equipment,  ng AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines], pag ang instructions ay galing sa Pangulo, they’ll put all the resources. Maganda if there's someone above. If not the president, it would be the executive secretary (ES). Kung may ibang meeting [ang Pangulo], the ES would take over kasi may jurisdiction,” she said.

Bautista said it all boils down to the management style of the principal.

“Kaniya kaniyang style. Nakikita ko rin ngayon, nilocalize [yung hostage crisis] through [Manila Mayor Fred] Lim. Diskarte yun ng Pangulo. Alam niya dapat kailan niya iaangat, lalo na pag may international implications, automatic ang DFA, and they would give proper advice and government-to-government coordination. They know who to call. It depends on the style of leadership. Nangyari nung panahon namin, there was no circular but we relied on common sense and sensitivity of involvement, yung openness and willingness to help. Lahat tatakbo. Important yung dynamics within the Cabinet. It's really official family, maganda na magkakasundo,” she explained.

Importance of crisis managers

Of primary importance, she said, is who will be the designated lead crisis managers.

“Ito importante: klaro sino yung crisis manager. Sa kaniya dadaan lahat ng instructions, kasama NTC [National Telecommunications Commission], nainvolve sila kasi kasama ang media and KBP [Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas]. Usually coordination ng level ng matataas na opisyal ng networks and papers para sila ang magbababa sa organization.”

Among Arroyo’s top crisis managers were then Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza (Air Transport Office Tower takeover, 2002),  Gen. Boysie Rosales (National Capital Region Police Office siege in Taguig), then Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro (Manila Peninsula Siege in November 2007), then Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita as crisis manager (Oakwood Mutiny in 2003), and then Mayor Lito Atienza (Manila school bus hostage-taking in 2007)

Aside from all these, it was open secret in the Arroyo administration that Arroyo’s long time Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, and long time Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, were the main strategists and political operators and trouble-shooters for Arroyo, who stared down various crisis, political and otherwise, during her 9 years in power.

Arroyo provided for PNP modernization

Meantime, Arroyo’s allies, House minority leader Edcel Lagman and House senior deputy minority leader Danilo Suarez dispelled notions that Arroyo didn’t provide for the modernization of the PNP.

Lagman and Suarez both noted that Arroyo started a 5-year P10 billion modernization program for the PNP in 2008.

Lagman said this means the PNP gets P2 billion a year from the modernization account, and for this year, there is still P1.3 billion left.

He also cited an antedated August 25 letter from Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Jesse Robredo that realigns some P230 million in funds for the modernization program. 

Lagman said, “It is an empty alibi that the past administration didn’t provide funds for modernization of PNP in 2008 when I was chair of appropriations.”

Robredo earlier said the Arroyo administration is partly to blame for the sorry state of the PNP's equipment as seen during the botched rescue of the Hong Kong tourists at the Rizal Park.