“Noynoy: Heads will roll over hostage rescue lapses”

In the aftermath of the Quirino Grandstand Fiasco, investigations are being conducted here and there by every government agency including the senate. Fingers are pointing in every direction.

The nagging question – WHO’S TO BLAME?

Who’s to blame in this given scenario?

Scenario – Hostage Crisis

Implication – International repercussion any which way the crisis ends.

 

Players:

• Hostages – Tourists Hongkong nationals
• Hostage Taker – Ex-policeman
• Crisis Management Committee Head – Mayor
• Police SWAT
• Broadcast Media – TV and Radio
• Civilian onlookers

Situation:

• Hostages are tourist Hongkong nationals.
• Hostage taker is a police captain dismissed from the service, demanding speedy resolution of his case in the Ombudsman.
• THERE IS ONLY ONE hostage taker.
• Hostage taker could monitor the events happening outside the bus.
• Hostage taking is taking place inside a tourist bus in front of Quirino Grandstand.
• Situation has an international implication any which way it ends.
• Media is everywhere, each doing its own ways in presenting the news. Some are even in direct communication with the hostage taker.
• Civilian onlookers are everywhere.

Issues:

• The hostage taker is a LONE ex-policeman demanding justice to the perceived injustices done to him by the Ombudsman.
• The hostage taker is NOT A TERRORIST.
• Where and/or to whom does the crisis committee reports?
• What are the action plans of the crisis management committee?
• Up to what extent the negotiator could accede to the demands of the hostage taker?
• When should the negotiator give up?
• When to use the SWAT?
• What are the acceptable collateral damages?
• Why was the media allowed to take live footages of the “handcuffing” of the brother of the hostage taker?
• Why was the civilian onlookers allowed to approached the bus after the shooting?

 

News Item: Noynoy: Heads will roll over hostage rescue lapses (Philstar; 31 August 2010)

“But again, at the end of the day I’m commander-in-chief, I was in touch with (Philippine National Police) Director General (Jesus) Verzosa, I asked who the ground commander was, I was informed it was (Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo) Magtibay. I was also informed that the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) was there to back up Magtibay, I was informed that the SAF (Special Action Forces) would be the primary unit tasked in case there was a need to employ the final option. A lot of these things did not happen…why exactly the assurances given to me were not done, and that is where I will show you corrective action this week,” Mr. Aquino said.

From these statements of the President, it is clear he knew what’s happening and the focus of the rescue operation evolves in the use of police force to save the hostages with a justified collateral damages. The president was assured by the PNP that this is the best they could do to save the lives of the hostages.

However, from the onset of the crisis, it’s a pity that:

• Nobody among the president’s men advised him of the international repercussion the crisis would bring any which way it ends.
• Nobody advised him collateral damage IS NOT ACCEPTABLE because of the adverse international impact it would bring to the country.
• Nobody advised him the lives of hostage Hongkong nationals SHOULD BE SAVED AT ALL COST!
• Nobody advised him the crisis could be solved without the use of guns.

Nevertheless, even in the absence of these advisers, an experience and decisive leader would initiate the basic management resolutions for a crisis with this magnitude and he would immediately:

• Convene all his men (DFA, DOJ, DILG, DND, etc) for crisis assessment and brainstorming of solutions.
• Assign a point man between him and the ground commander, if he does not want to do it.
• Choose the course of action that would save all the hostages AT ALL COST.
• Decide and implement the chosen course of action.
• Take the responsibility whatever the result might be.

 

All of these could have been done before that fatal handcuffing incident.

Where were the president’s men when he needed them most!

With this scenario, Mr. President, whose head should roll?

 

Philstar: “Noynoy: Heads will roll over hostage rescue lapses”: Posted:  01 Sept 2010