GMA vows ‘greater discipline’ at PNP

President Arroyo vowed yesterday to institute "greater discipline and proactive measures" following last Tuesday’s hostage drama where three policemen were killed and three others wounded against a lone Abu Sayyaf gunman inside the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters at Camp Crame.

"I have already ordered a summary probe on the incident and I shall decide on its results once they are in," Mrs. Arroyo said. "Greater discipline and proactive measures are in order."

In a statement, Mrs. Arroyo reiterated her instructions to PNP chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. and Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina to speed up the completion of the new maximum security detention facility at Camp Crame "to forestall the escape of high profile detainees and obviate these untoward incidents," referring to Tuesday morning’s three-hour hostage drama.

In a brief interview with the Philippine media delegation in Bali, Indonesia Tuesday night, Mrs. Arroyo declined to comment on the fate of Ebdane.

The President is attending the ninth informal leaders summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Bali, Indonesia.

Malacañang floated the possibility of relieving Ebdane from his post following the hostage-taking incident.

Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo had said a possible PNP revamp looms in the wake of the latest security foul-up at Camp Crame.

"I would attend to that as soon as I get back to Manila," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"This incident is really very saddening, indeed very sad. If only our police authorities have been stricter, this could not have happened," she said.

In an interview over radio dzBB, Saludo said yesterday the possible PNP revamp because of Tuesday’s incident, is a matter to be decided by Mrs. Arroyo.

"The President, of course, as soon as she comes back (said) she would look at all these things, who are responsible for this latest incident," Saludo said.

Saludo said "there is no limit" for the President’s decision including the possibility of a revamp in the PNP.

He said it would be expected for Mrs. Arroyo upon her return from Bali to act decisively on the results of the investigation over the incident.

In a bid to escape detention, Buyungan Bungkak, a suspected Abu Sayyaf bandit held for the bombing of a pubhouse that left several people including a US serviceman dead last year, reportedly grabbed an M-16 rifle from a guard he took hostage.

The police hostage was shot in the head while two officers who came to his aid were killed as a rescue team stormed the building in the compound inside Camp Crame where Bungkak was detained. – with Bong Fabe