‘What IIRC recommended, what was changed’

BALITA KAY JUAN ‘What IIRC recommended, what was changed’ Compiled by David Dizon abs-cbnNEWS.com   The Palace legal team watered down several of the recommendations of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) with respect to the filing of criminal and administrative charges against 13 individuals in the August 23 hostage crisis. Specifically, the legal [...]

‘Biggest accountability’

BALITA KAY JUAN Ex-Manila police chief:‘Biggest accountability’ By Nikko Dizon Philippine Daily Inquirer The Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) has accused Chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay of incompetence and disobedience and said that his actions at the critical moments caused the “debacle” during last month’s bloody hostage drama. A confidential portion of the IIRC report, [...]

A look into the hostage-crisis report

BALITA KAY JUAN A look into the hostage-crisis report By Calling A Spade… By Solita Collas-Monsod The First Report of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), submitted to the President a few days ago, is published in the government’s Official Gazette (OG), for everyone to read at leisure. That it is posted there at [...]

IIRC’s hostage incident report (Part 5): Evaluation of media coverage

BALITA KAY JUAN IIRC’s hostage incident report (Part 5): Evaluation of media coverage EVALUATION of MEDIA COVERAGE The incident in review was given extensive tri-media (television, media and print) coverage.  Major television networks pre-empted their regular programming to cover the incident.  Even foreign press correspondents were on the scene in the afternoon of August 23, [...]

IIRC’s hostage incident report (Part 4): Evaluation of CMC and police actions

BALITA KAY  JUAN IIRC’s hostage incident report (Part 4): Evaluation of CMC and police actions EVALUATION of CMC and POLICE ACTIONS Establishing the Crisis Management Committee (CMC) The formation of the CMC established the capability to handle the crisis incident.  Conversely, the non-establishment of the CMC established the incapability to handle the crisis situation. That [...]

IIRC’s hostage incident report (Part 3): Forensic findings

BALITA KAY JUAN IIRC’s hostage incident report (Part 3): Forensic findings FORENSIC FINDINGS Forensic Pathology On August 24, 2010 the remains of the hostage-taker and five of the eight dead foreigners were autopsied by the Philippine National Police medico-legal officers. The remaining three were only externally examined “per relatives’ request.” The PNP autopsy reports (mostly [...]

IIRC’s hostage incident report (Part 2)

BALITA KAY JUAN IIRC’s hostage incident report (Part 2) Ombudsman Letter Vice Mayor Isko Moreno arrived at the Luneta PCP from the Ombudsman between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. He saw Mayor Lim with the police generals and officials and handed the letter to him. The letter to Mendoza from the Ombudsman was read in the [...]

IIRC’s hostage incident report (Part 1)

BALITA KAY JUAN IIRC’s hostage incident report (part 1) First Report of the INCIDENT INVESTIGATION and REVIEW COMMITTEE on the August, 23, 2010 Rizal Park Hostage-taking Incident: SEQUENCE OF EVENTS, EVALUATION and RECOMMENDATIONS IIRC, September 16, 2010 “Is that the bus going to the Heroes’ Graveyard?” -PSInsp Rolando Del Rosario Mendoza, to Ruth Del Castillo, [...]

IIRC cites 8 critical incidents in hostage fiasco

BALITA KAY JUAN IIRC cites 8 critical incidents in hostage fiasco By David Dizon abs-cbnNEWS.com MANILA, Philippines – Lapses, wrong decisions and lack of a negotiation strategy by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, police commanders, hostage negotiators and mediamen are to blame for the bloody outcome of the August 23 hostage crisis in [...]

What went wrong? Lessons from the hostage tragedy

BALITA KAY JUAN What went wrong? Lessons from the hostage tragedy By YASMIN D. ARQUIZA GMANews.TV Years from now, security forces across the globe will be looking back at the hostage incident in front of the Quirino grandstand last Aug. 23 as an important case study on what not to do in case a similar [...]