Rescue crasher sacked

MANILA, Philippines - A Manila police official has lost his job for his unwelcome display of zeal – joining the assault that ended the hostage drama last Monday in Rizal Park.

Superintendent Nelson Yabut, head of the Public Safety Battalion of the Manila Police District (MPD), became the sixth policeman sacked following the bungled hostage rescue operation that left eight Hong Kong tourists and the hostage taker dead.

Yabut was seen with the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team in the assault on the tourist bus in the final moments of the hostage drama.

National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leocadio Santiago said Yabut has a lot of explaining to do about his presence at the hostage incident.

“We checked the organizational chart of the crisis management committee to deal with the hostage incident and his name (Yabut) was not listed. He should explain his presence there,” Santiago said in an interview.

Yabut, who is known to be close to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, was seen in the video recordings reviewed by Santiago and several ranking NCRPO officials as the officer without a flak jacket and with a bull cap worn in reverse.

He was holding a handgun alongside SWAT members crouching around the bus.

According to Santiago, they are investigating the presence of Yabut and other policemen in the area.

The hostage taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, was eventually shot dead by a sniper.

Earlier, MPD director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, the ground commander of the hostage drama, took a leave of absence to give way to the investigation of the incident.

Four other members of the MPD SWAT were relieved because of the bungled rescue operation.