MANILA, Philippines - After taking responsibility for what transpired during the hostage crisis on August 23, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III said he will still axe those who contributed to the bloody outcome.

In a no-holds-barred interview with representatives from the 3 largest broadcast networks, Aquino said he could have done more if not for the “immense” confidence he had on the people then on the ground.

“Nung ako’y tumungo sa Bahay (Pangarap), malaki ang kumpyansa ko na mareresolba ang problema,” he said.

He said he had been assured by a liaison officer that the hostage incident would end peacefully.

He said he had consistently monitored the incident, despite being sidetracked by different matters from budget issues to dengue situation monitoring.

But by the time he switched his television on, he saw the incident had gone for the worse especially after the arrest of the hostage-taker’s brother.

“Sino kaya nag-utos nito? Ano kaya epekto na mangyayari?...Sino nag-utos nito? Di niya kaya naisip ang magiging reaction [ni dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza],” he said.

Off to Emerald Restaurant

He dismissed rumors he had started his day late on August 23. “In the morning, I was reading the draft message on the budget…It was 31-pages long…I also followed up with [Health Secretary Enrique Ona] on dengue,” he explained.

Aquino said he managed to take a peek at a text message informing him of the hostage incident at the Quirino Grandstand.

“I immediately called [Philippine National Police Chief Jesus] Verzosa and asked him if he was aware of what was happening. I asked him who was the ground commander and informed me that it was [Manila Police District Chief Superintendent Rodolfo] Magtibay,” he said.

Assured he had reliable men on the ground, Aquino said he also made numerous phone calls to ensure that medical supplies, ambulances, doctors would also be around ready to help the hostages.

All those times, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno was keeping him abreast of the situation, he said.

After seeing the events on television, “napikon na ako…nasaan na ba ang SAF [Special Action Force]…They told me they would be on call in Bicutan. But how can they effect anything if they were in Bicutan?” he said.

The handling of such incidents during his mother’s stint as president was way different during what happened in the Quirino Grandstand, he said.

“What I was taught was not what I saw in Quirino Grandstand..maling-mali, naubos ang pasensya ko…Itinuro ako sa Emerald,” he said

Aquino looks for Magtibay

As soon as he reached the command area, Aquino said he looked for Magtibay to demand some answers.

“Naabutan ko sila dun, sila Puno, [Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim], Magtibay…I wanted answers to what happened…kakaiba sa ipinangako sa akin,” he said.

Aquino stressed he had much faith in the ground commander, Magtibay, backed then by another experienced cop, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Leocadio Santiago.

“SAF siya dati, tapos NCRPO ngayon…I had immense confidence in Santiago…If Magtibay had shortcomings, Santiago should be there as support,” he said.

A few days after the incident, Magtibay was relieved from his post.

Santiago offered to resign

Besides this initial repercussion, however, nobody offered to resign from their posts to soften the blow for the young administration.
 
“In fairness to Santiago, he said ‘I’m ready to explain, I’m ready to offer my head. Do it if it’s necessary,” Aquino said.

The president, however, said he would opt to wait for the recommendations of a multi-sectoral taskforce directed to review the events during the hostage crisis.

Anyone found wanting will face criminal and administrative raps, he said.

Puno, Robredo

Aquino also managed to cushion the impact of the backlash on some of his Cabinet men.

DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo and Undersecretary Rico Puno also received the most flak for their supposed inadequate performance.

On Puno, Aquino said he only got into the picture because he knew the “people.” One of Puno’s roles as undersecretary for peace and order is to manage the police.

Even with Puno as his point man then, he reiterated “we left it to Magtibay…backed by Santiago.”

On Robredo, Aquino said he decided to stick with him because of his qualifications. Nonetheless, both are now in talks on whether Robredo would continue working for the administration.

Even before the hostage crisis happened, Robredo was already cast as “acting secretary.”

Aquino admitted they had “differences” because of conflicting work schedules during the election period.

Nonetheless, he reiterated Robredo had not been tasked to handle the police to focus on other relevant issues attached to the department. As former local chief executive of Naga City, he said Robredo succeeded in addressing the problem of informal settlers.

Faction within the camp

He denied there was a faction within his camp that led to the botched hostage negotiations.

He said this was only a tactic designed by his political opponents.

He also apparently let the members of his communication group off the hook, despite earlier comments he had not been apprised well of the hostage crisis.

Aquino said “on my end, conscious ako na dapat klaro sa kanila [Cabinet officials] na agree kaming lahat. Para lahat naiintindihan kung bakit kailangang yun ang gawin namin.”