IIRC submits second report on hostage crisis

MANILA, Philippines - The incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) has submitted to the Palace its second report on the hostage-taking incident in Luneta last August where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed after a botched police rescue operation.

The 59-page report released by IIRC chair and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima came up with a nine-part set of recommendations to prevent similar failure in police operations.

On top of the list is the creation of a Uniform Crisis Management Manual for authorities involved in hostage and other emergency response operations and formation of a technical working group under the Peace and Order Council or National Crisis Management Committee.

The IIRC said that there should be “designation of a specific government agency which will ensure that the recommended Uniform Crisis Management Manual and the internal policies and procedures are in place, properly disseminated and monitored, and that the prescribed crisis response organizations are created at the national, regional and local levels.”

Secondly, there should be proper identification of composition and functions of various crisis management organizations in government, including the local crisis management committee (CMC), the probe body said.

It also suggested that there should be proper delineation between a national and local crisis for proper determination of which team should respond to the incident.

“There should be formulation of specific and clear SOP (standard operating procedures) on official convening of the CMC and corresponding sanctions for failure to follow SOP,” the IIRC stressed.

As for the hostage negotiations and action stage, the IIRC proposed that a chief negotiator from a pool of PNP negotiators, not necessarily coming from the local PNP command, should be designated and there should be a crowd control sub-group to take care of the public and media.

The IIRC has also recommended the arrest of public or media persons who would cross police lines.

It also suggested the formulation of SOPs on post-action operations.

The probe panel said PNP personnel should be well trained and that there should be “evaluation and review of government procurement procedures to facilitate PNP requisition needs.”

As for administrative and disciplinary procedures, the IIRC called for the creation of a unified disciplinary authority for the PNP and Internal Affairs Service (lAS) that will exclusively hear disciplinary cases against policemen.

It also suggested the abolition of the People’s Law Enforcement Board and removal of summary proceedings in the National Police Commission.

Lastly, the IIRC also submitted proposals for legislative measures, including a law penalizing breach of an established police line, restricted zone, or crime scene without authority.

The second phase of the IIRC probe focused on institutional reforms.

The first one dwelt on liabilities of officials who responded to the incident.

The probe body had found 13 persons and three major news networks liable.

The 13 personalities found liable for the botched police rescue during the hostage incident are: Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Undersecretary Rico Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, former Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, former Manila Police District (MPD) Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Leocadio Santiago, special weapons and tactics unit head Chief Inspector Santiago Pascual, hostage negotiator Supt. Orlando Yebra, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III, and news anchors Erwin Tulfo and Michael Rogas and the station manager of Radyo Mo Nationwide station dzXL.

The Palace, however, did not adopt the recommendations in full.