MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III warned a retired Army sergeant against following through on his threat to do what Manila hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza did if the military does not give him the benefits he is asking for.

"That is extremely wrong. He should desist from it and he should go through the process," President Aquino said.

He added that retired Technical Sergeant Charmie Palencia can even write to his office to ensure that his complaints will be acted upon.

Palencia has been making calls to the Senate threatening to hold civilians hostage if the Army does not give him his benefits.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Oversight Office Management said that Palencia has been demanding that the military include his benefits for his broken service from February 1988 to August 1994.

It said that Palencia's complaint has been forwarded to the Department of National Defense twice this year -- on January 21 and September 2. The Senate committee said the complaint has also been endorsed to the Defense secretary's office last February 26.

Aquino said that he will not tolerate threats like this. He reminded the ex-military man that nothing good will happen if he pursues such threats.

He also warned Palencia of possible criminal charges if he continues to make such threats.

"If a wrong was committed to him, doing another wrong will not rectify the situation," the President said.

President Aquino has taken responsibility for “everything that has transpired” in the hostage crisis last week.
 
President Aquino said he actually has direct supervision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the time since he had previously asked Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jess Robredo to concentrate on something else.
 
“When I got him, I did tell him, that at this point in time, we’re trying to consolidate especially with our security forces. I will retain direct supervision on the PNP until such time that he has addressed other concerns, specifically our promises to the informal sectors of our country,” Aquino told reporters. 
 
Aquino said he was responsible for everything that happened.

The August 23 hostage crisis saw a dismissed police officer, Rolando Mendoza, take hostage several Hong Kong tourists aboard a bus to demand for his reinstatement to the service. In the end, 9 died including the gunman himself.