by magnolia_eic | Aug 31, 2010 | Headlines, National News
Manila, Philippines — The Palace has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation to stop issuing statements about the hostage incident and to let the Department of Justice (DoJ) do the talking.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said only Justice Secretary Leila de Lima would be allowed to brief the media and the public on the developments in the investigation being conducted by an inter-agency body headed by the DoJ.
Lacierda said the order was De Lima’s idea meant to avoid confusion.
The order came a day after the PNP, through spokesman Sr. Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., said all tourists were killed by the hostage taker and not by fire from the members of the Manila Police S.W.A.T. team. Cruz cited initial forensic analysis on spent shells recovered inside the bus where the hostages were held.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 28, 2010 | Opinion
On a delayed trip on the Oceanjet from Cebu to Tagbilaran on August 25, 2010, the passengers were startled by a lady foreign tourist who fell on the floor and hit her head quite hard on a metal object.
Luckily, there was a doctor, a nurse and several kind hearted citizens who stood up and helped her recover from a fainting spell. But the crew seemed unable to respond properly to the emergency because they could not produce an emergency kit, saying they only had Biogesic on board. There wasn’t even a stretcher. Fortunately the doctor was bringing along her stethoscope and she was able to check her vital signs.
Her male companion, through the little English he knew, was able to communicate with the volunteers and provided the doctor with some medical history.
A little later, an improvised bed was finally made with blankets and towels from the passengers. A crew member removed padding from a chair and this was used as a pillow.
Amidst the chaos, the other volunteers tried to contact the hospitals to request for an ambulance so the patient could be immediately checked because her head was probably injured by the impact. Their attempts were unsuccessful.
As the boat neared the pier, the captain was able to arrange for the port police to use their vehicle as an ambulance.
The event underscored the need for a centralized emergency response unit in Bohol that could receive calls and evaluate for authenticity of the emergency and then organize the teams that should respond. This would be not only be important for Boholanos, but also to tourists who wouldn’t have a clue on who to contact for emergency situations. This unit should also respond not only to medical emergencies but also to fire, crime and other forms of emergency.
The technology to setup such emergency response unit is already available. Let’s hope one will soon be organized for Bohol.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 28, 2010 | Tech Talk
The grim outcome of last week’s hostage drama was made worse with embarrassing execution of maneuvers by the SWAT team that seem to put a doubt on the quality of training the police recruits get. Because of the detailed and live coverage of the situation, the suspect probably had a very good source of information on the situation outside the bus because it had a TV set — while the police probably didn’t have a clue on what was going on inside.
The SWAT team approached the bus and the event was broadcast live by the various TV stations. The suspect only had to look at the TV set to know the positions of the assault teams. His brother joined in the drama and was arrested by the police. Because he resisted arrest, he got a fair amount of “rough handling”, again on live telecast much to the anger of the suspect and after this, the situation became out of control.
In future situations like this, should media exercise prudence and choose not to broadcast live events like the arrest and rough handling of the suspect’s brother? Should they not broadcast live the positions taken by the police and assault teams?
At the end of the day, the police would still be responsible for the outcome of crisis situations and perhaps on their end, they should have put control on how much the media and the suspect can see. Or at least display activity to divert the suspect and media from the real action that is about to happen.
Unfortunately for the PNP and the Philippines in general, videos and photos have already circulated around the Internet depicting the poor execution of tactics and the numerous bloopers by the SWAT teams. And even after the sad conclusion of the hostage drama, police officers were seen posing for souvenir photos, adding insult to the injury.
With today’s technology, photos and videos can easily be published online anonymously and can spread throughout the Internet in a matter of hours. Posing for souvenir photos of a crime scene should be an administrative offense for law enforcement personnel. Better yet, the authorities should update standard operating procedures and training that would suit the possible conditions and circumstances that could arise during these times, due to the rapid advent of technology and the rising participation of the people in government affairs.
by magnolia_eic | Aug 28, 2010 | Headlines
Foreign investor confidence in the Philippines remains at an all-time high despite the bungled rescue attempt of Hong Kong nationals held hostage by a disgruntled former Manila policeman, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Thursday.
The President said officials of a multi-national bank based in the United States have already signified their intent to invest in the country.
He said his forthcoming trip to the US would solidify the prospective investor’s plans which he said would generate jobs for the Filipino people.
“By the end of September, we will be going to America and upon our return, I believe that we will be bringing gifts for the Filipino people in the form of additional jobs,” the President said.
He said Deutsche Bank officials met with him in Malacañang after the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident to express their collective confidence on the country as an investment venue.
“I met with bank officials in Malacañang a day after the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident and they told me that what we are going through right now is only temporary,” the President said.
“Our confidence in the Philippines is still complete, in fact we plan to increase our exposure here over three times because we believe that the Philippines is on the path to progress,” the President quoted the bank officials as saying.
He said that with the increase in investments, the country’s economy would also grow and with a growing economy, the search of funding sources to bankroll various infrastructure projects would become easier.
The President called on all Filipinos: “If we help each other, if we focus on our responsibility to others, nothing can impede the growth of the Filipino people. (PCOO/PIA)
by magnolia_eic | Aug 28, 2010 | Headlines, National News
President Benigno S. Aquino III vowed that justice will be served to those found accountable for the Luneta Grandstand hostage-taking incident and subsequent botched rescue attempt by security forces last Monday that led to the death of eight Hong Kong nationals.
The Chief Executive made this statement in his speech on Thursday at the ground breaking and time-capsule laying ceremonies for the construction of the Teacher Education and Law Center Building of the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City.
The President, however, said that due process will be maintained and the results of the investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation into the case will be the basis for bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The President gave assurance that they have started to rectify whatever mistakes had been committed Monday evening, and that the public will be informed of the outcome of the investigation to be conducted by DOJ and the NBI.
“There were shortcomings, but there will be justice”, the President said. (PCOO/PIA)
