MPD officers to start retraining in handling hostage crisis

Still smarting from security lapses in the handling of the recent drama in which 26 children were taken hostage in a bus, officers of the Manila Police District (MPD) will undergo a six-day training on handling hostage situations.

The training, which include the MPD’s 11 police station commanders and police community precincts chiefs, will be held from April 10 to 15 at the Manila Police Academy in the MPD compound.

According to MPD director Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa the purpose of the training is to enhance the police’s skills on principles and techniques of hostage negotiation.

Officers will also brush up on rules in handling hostage situations to increase chances of safe rescue of victims and avoiding violence.

The training also aims to develop mental and physical preparedness and confidence of the police in resolving hostage-takings, Abarzosa said.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Calderon, National Capital Region Police Office chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla and Manila Mayor Lito Atienza are expected to open the training session.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) had earlier recommended administrative charges against MPD cops involved in the hostage crisis.

The recommendation was separate from the initial report submitted by the CIDG which was tasked to investigate lapses during the 10-hour hostage drama.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno had observed that during the hostage-taking incident members of the media, relatives of the hostages and onlookers ignored police lines and moved in only meters away from the bus, in which day care center owner Armando "Jun" Ducat and accomplice took 26 of his wards hostage.

This prompted Puno to order the relief of Abarzosa, Ermita police station chief Superintendent Rogelio Rosales and Liwasang Bonifacio police community precinct chief Inspector Bernardo Cubacub.

However, Calderon and Atienza asked Puno to defer his order pending the results of the investigation into the lapses.

The Manila Police District Press Corps (MPDPC) even awarded Atienza and Abarzosa with plaques of commendation for the successful resolution of the hostage crisis and the eventual arrest of the hostage takers.

"It was the able leadership of Mayor Atienza and the resolute command of Col. Abarzosa which saved the lives of the 26 hostage schoolchildren that resulted in the happy ending of the hostage crisis," MPDPC president Francis Naguit said.

Most of hostage situations in the past resulted in loss of lives on both sides of the hostages and the hostage-takers. "The Manila incident only proves that our police force are always on top of any situation," Naguit added.

Meanwhile, hostage-takers Ducat and his accomplice, Cesar Augustus Carbonell, are scheduled to present their counter-affidavits before the city fiscal tomorrow.

The two are facing charges of serious illegal detention and violation of the election gun ban, aside from 26 counts of child abuse filed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development that are to be taken up in separate hearings.

On March 28, Ducat and his accomplice took 26 of his day care pupils hostage on their way to a field trip. The children – unaware of the unfolding crisis – were provided toys and food to keep them occupied.

As the global news media zoomed in, beaming images of the standoff around the world, Ducat railed against government corruption, demanded free housing and education for his pupils and threatened to explode two grenades if police mounted a rescue effort.