Outgoing PNP chief too takes responsibility for tragedy

Updated 11:59 p.m.) Like his commander-in-chief President Aquino, outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa on Sunday took responsibility for the bungled hostage rescue last August 23.

On the eve of his early retirement, which was scheduled before the colossal police failure took place, Verzosa declared the nation's police to be in a "time of transition."

“My decision to render an early retirement was announced more than a month ago. More than ever, it is imperative to take responsibility, especially with regards to what has transpired in the past week," Verzosa said in a statement.

“In this regard, as chief of the National Police, I take responsibility and accountability of all the PNP units and all police personnel in everything they do and failed to do," he added.

Verzosa, who was supposed to retire on December 25, will step down on Sept. 15.

With Aquino's blessing

Malacañang, on the other hand, confirmed Verzosa’s claim that he sought early retirement even before former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, who was dismissed from the PNP for a robbery-extortion case, hijacked a busload of foreign tourists in Manila’s Rizal Park. Mendoza, who was demanding his reinstatement, was killed at the conclusion of the 11-hour hostage drama.

“Matagal nang ipinahiwatig ni General Verzosa ang kagustuhan nito kay Pangulong Aquino. Noon pang pagpasok ng administrasyon ng ating Pangulo. At ito ay tinanggap ng Pangulo at iyan ang dahilan kung bakit ipapatupad ang kanyang kagustuhan hinggil sa early retirement," said Presidential Communication Operations Office head Herminio Coloma in an interview by Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.

(General Verzosa informed President Aquino about his plan for early retirement during the start of the new administration, and the President accepted it. What will happen now is just the implementation of that plan.)

Aside from Verzosa, other members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1976 also sought early retirement, Coloma said. These were PNP director for personnel and records management Abner Cabalquinto and PNP director for logistics Luizo Ticman, who are both set to retire in October.

Coloma said Verzosa told President Aquino early in his administration about his and his other classmates’ plan to seek early retirement to give the other PMA graduates in the PNP a chance to be promoted and head the police organization.

“Nililinaw natin, ito at matagal nang napagkasunduan bago pa man nagkaroon ng hostage crisis noong nakaraang lingo (So to clarify everything, Verzosa’s decision to seek early retirement has been agreed upon long before last week’s hostage crisis)," Coloma said.

No replacement yet

Coloma said President Aquino would name Verzosa’s successor soon.

“Iyun po ay ihahayag ng ating Pangulo sa takdang panahon. Hintayin na lang po natin ang paglalahad ng ating Pangulo (The President will name Verzosa’s successor at the right time. For the meantime, let’s just wait for our President’s announcement)," he said.

Among those vying for the post are Deputy Director General Raul Bacalzo, deputy director general for administration Perfecto Palad, and directorial staff head Benjamin Belarmini.

Moving on

Verzosa, in his statement, said the PNP will now "undergo a time of transition" and asked the public for support and cooperation.

“The PNP will now undergo a time of transition. The support and cooperation of every sector most especially the public is needed. It is now time to move forward and start anew," he said.

He assured the public that the PNP is “exercising all means in order to attain the effective resolution" of the hostage tragedy.

Probe reaches 3rd day

Meanwhile, the inter-agency fact-finding committee tasked to investigate the hostage incident will continue with its clarificatory hearings on Monday with the grilling of the driver of the ill-fated tour bus who managed to escape from the carnage.

Aside from bus driver, Alberto Lubang, also expected to attend the hearing on Monday is “Rose," the woman who drove Mendoza to Manila on the morning of Aug. 23.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, the chairperson of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), said the panel members are also likely to conduct an ocular inspection of the hijacked tourist bus, which is now parked at the Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig for the reenactment of the events leading to the shooting rampage of Mendoza.

“We might have an ocular inspection of the bus at the warehouse in Camp Bagong Diwa. When we question the bus driver we might do that ocular inspection for purposes of reenactment," she said.- KBK/HS, GMANews.TV


source gma