Transcript of Q & A on Aquino’s decision on IIRC recommendation

Q: Sir, considering that Malacañang put a lot of time and effort in the piece decisions, do you expect the public, the people of Hongkong, the victims and the Chinese government to accept them?

PNOY: I’m hoping that, that will be the case. Again, we want to be fair to all parties concerned, processes were religiously observed and at the end of the day, there was an evaluation as to what can be preferred in terms of corrective action. I will ask them to also provide with you. Well, it will be posted in the gazette, but you can get and secure copies. There was a very lengthy explanation of all the legal concepts. The bottom line is, ….would not want to file charges, that one knows from the get go, will not prosper. That will just taking much of the courts time, which can be utilized to effect a better conviction rate for cases that can prosper.

Q: Doon po sa case ni Mr. Rogas saka ni Mr., Tulfo, you made a statement that you would be compelled to support a measures in Congress that restrict coverage. Can this be taken as a warning?

PNOY: Mia, I think, I explained it already before. Para bang look at Mr. Tulfo’s case, and again by on words, he was told by the police not to, he proceed to do so. Is that responsible? In the case of Mr. Rogas, specifically at the portion, when he was getting really, really tense and he was pressuring Capt. Mendoza to take, parang to make a decision, “Ano po ang gagawin ninyo”, I think is the exact quote. And he said it in several times, only to realize that some further point that he was inflaming the hostage-taker. That I think, also falls under the purview of really irresponsible journalism. Now, the KBP amongst other entities and even those who are not members have already undertaken to review their own conduct of ethics, their code of ethics rather. They have already disciplined their erring members, some are just now coming out with their own code of ethics. These are helpful signs. You are torn between two obligations, one is freedom of the press. As you know the Constitution specifically says, laws abridging the freedom of the press will not be passed. But at the same time, freedom, as we have all been thought has certain limitations. So, we are hoping that like any evolving piece of law, this code of ethics will become firmer and firmer whereby responsibilities temper freedoms.

Q: Sir, hindi po yata nabanggit dito sa possible na nasampahan si General Versoza. Ano po ang mangyayari sa kanya, sir?

PNOY: General Versoza has already retires, number one, number two, you will note that if you will read the treaties prepared by my lawyers, there has to be a specific law violated, first the law has to exist, it was violated, then you can put a sanction. In the case of General Versoza the manual that was in placed at that point in time, does not contain a provision of when a local crisis situation should be elevated to the national leadership and by whom. Those are some of the weaknesses of the current manual. Iyong early on, it was, the threat comes from a solidarity gun man, the decision was made to not put in higher official, so that the demands will go for a possible already to begin with. Will not even be made greater and more impossible. And hence, increase the tension. So, General Versoza proceeded to talk to the parties concerned, specifically Magtibay and Santiago and proceeded to carry out his other functions while monitoring the events. So, that seems to be in order. Siguro, If I can liken the situation to myself, nobody has said that I should have drop all the other stuffs that I was doing that day, amongst them, I was conferring with Secretary Ona with regards to the dengue situation, I was conferring in turn with Secretary Abad with regards to the budget message that had to be delivered on that same day. There was an oath taking ceremony of a multitude of appointees who should be seated already in their respective offices and performing the services needed by our people. So, if we will say that General Versoza was not physically present in that area and should have taken controlled of it, I am exactly sure that the crisis manual dictates that. And in fact, the review says that there is no law that we can see and no rule or regulation that would merit administrative case. So, at this point in time, perhaps, one can say that he should have meddled even without the appropriate authority specifically mentioned in a situation that was deemed under control until the situation deteriorated late in the afternoon.

Q: (recording cut) so after ng decision ng … iyong sa review nina ES at CPLC kung anong gagawin kay Usec. Puno, don’t you think it will affect the credibility of the report?

PNOY: Mabalik tayo ulit sa isyu: mayron ba siyang viniolate (violated) sa lahat ng mga patakaran o batas na umiiral po sa ating bansa? And after the review, we cannot find the same. There is a standard of performance that I expect from him and also from Secretary Robredo. This has not been demonstrated. That’s why I sat them down last night. And in effect, I lay down the law. These are the things that I want both of you to start doing. First and foremost is that you act as one. There is an end to, if any, bickering. Possible, you redefine the processes whereby you interact and come up with a better working relationship so that you are effective in all of the missions that have been tasked to the DILG. It’s not really just police matters or fire protection or the BGMP, hindi ba? When I was in America , there was an issue with the relocation in the North Triangle Area. The local government is tasked under UDHA to either approve or disapprove iyong demolitions. That is one of the priorities I assigned to Secretary Robredo also, and other matters, some verging on the political, that were also not attended to.

So, given their performance previously, given their current performance, I told them specifics of items that I have been really displeased with. And we finished the meeting with firm commitments on changes that are forthcoming. Obviously, it goes hand in hand that if the forth changes promised do not come, there will be issues that will be threshed out. There will be sanctions that will be meted out to either or both of them.

Q: Sir, good afternoon. Sir, given the diplomatic impact of the hostage incident, should these cases be prioritized by Napolcom? And how actively will you be pushing your allies or friends in Congress with regard to the case of the Ombudsman?

PNOY: Well, iyong case of the Ombudsman cannot be filed at this point in time because there is a one year ban in between filing against the Ombudsman. And as you know, there is already a pending pleading, hindi ba, before Congress? But that would be there because they are the only body that is tasked by the Constitution, authorized by the Constitution to handle such a matter.

The central issue – if I am not mistaken, if I remember correctly – they rendered a decision; there was a motion for reconsideration; the motion had to be acted upon five days after the filing; nine months after, it’s still a pending motion, effectively denying Captain Mendoza access to higher courts and to other bodies that could have given him his day in court.

Q: Sir, after you have made these reports public, when can we expect the high level delegation to leave for China ?

PNOY: I will have to confirm with the DFA. They will be in touch with the Chinese Embassy.

Q: Good afternoon, Mr. President. Sir, paano po ninyo tutugunan iyong sentimiyento, kung hindi man discontent, ng mga IIRC members and the chair itself dahil hindi po nasunod lahat ng mga rekumendasyon nila?

PNOY: Can we wait for their official comments because I talked to all of them and they did not tell me that they were displeased with the direction that the review was taking?

Q: Sir, now that you have talked to Secretaries Robredo and Puno, will they stay on in their posts as DILG secretary and undersecretary?

PNOY: Yes, subject to changes. Subject to changes in the way that they have been conducting in the last few weeks, iyong the operations of their department.

Q: May timeframe po ba, sir, o titingnan natin?

PNOY: I think I really made it very clear to them that I was at my wits end with things that happened that shouldn’t have happened with instructions that were not followed to the fullest extent. I think, the people who were present at last night’s meeting understood completely and exactly my sense of exasperation – if I can use that phrase – and that this was the last chance.

Q: Good afternoon, Mr. President. Sa part po ng review, saan part po kayo nahirapan, either na i-retain o baguhin? At mayroon po ba kayong natanggap na pressures or apila maging ang review team sa ilang respondents?

PNOY: Kasi alam ninyo, noong una nating binasa iyan, binigyan ako kumbaga ng advance copy. So, I proceeded to read, I had time, I proceeded before they arrived, mga 45 pages of the 83-page report. After reading the 45 pages, the first thing that they told me was, “Sir, may mga revisions.”So, I had to go back to page one para pare-pareho iyong mga tinatalakay namin. Saan ba ako nahirapan? Iyong may general admonition for several people, possible criminal and administrative cases. Hindi naman po ako abogado. Ano ba ang specific laws na na-violate? Ano bang tiyansa na mag-prosper iyong ebidensiyang tangan natin? Sinong puwedeng kasuhan ng ano? So, medyo mahirap din kapag binigla kang—hindi ba, naririnig natin palagi iyong homicide through reckless imprudence, bigla pa lang may gross imprudence, mayroon palang simple imprudence. Mayroong ibang provisions diyan na dinifine (define) ng Revised Penal Code pero hindi naman nilagay na may sanctions, may penalties. So, bigla tayong nag-crash course sa pag-aabogado doon sa mga cases at mga laws na na-violate, pero siyempre hindi madali iyon.

Pero in general, I think most of us agreed on a consensus that this is the way that it has to be done based on the pertinent laws, rules and regulations that are operative in our country right now.

Q: Clarification lang, Mr. President. Maliban po kay Usec. Puno, wala rin pong liability si Vice Mayor Isko Moreno?

PNOY: Hindi klaro, kung naaalala mo doon sa report, kung di-nesignate siyang vice chairman of the crisis management committee. Iyong manual—to be honest with you, I think there are lots of LGUs that are not aware that such a manual even exists. Pero iyong aksiyon nga niya will flow or iyong kulang niya will flow from being designated as vice chair and being given specific duties by the chair of the crisis management committee. So walang showing – that’s not a legal phrase – there is no showing that he did actually become the vice chair of the committee. So, iyong mga dapat ginawa, hindi nagawa will flow from the designation. It didn’t happen, so how do we say that you didn’t do the following functions? Iyong in the same case with Yebra, he is with the legal department of Manila Police District. He was never designated chief negotiator or even negotiator, so pati doon mate-temper iyan. Iyong ano ba talaga ang puwedeng masabing kulang niya dahil hindi pa nga sa kaniya iyong puwesto kung tutuusin?

However, if I can highlight, the SWAT commander—in Yebra’s case, he should have emphasized to the decision makers that, “Sir, there has been a change in the disposition of the hostage taker. Sir, it’s time to stand to the tactical team.” Kung diniin niya iyon, iyon iyong sinasabi naming pagkukulang niya. Iyong SWAT commander naman, ano bang mga basics doon? Tinanong mo iyong may-ari ng bus, o iyong nagtanong sa may-ari ng bus kung saan ang mga switches nito para buksan iyong pintuan? Ano ba ang materyales nitong bus na ito? Iyong salamin, iyong kaha, etc. Biglang pupunta kay Magtibay at sasabihin kaya namin. Iyon para bang puwede bang haka-haka as opposed to professional inalam. Iyon ang isyu namin doon sa pagkukulang niya, at iyon ang dapat niyang panagutan. Iyong impormasyon na binigay sa decision maker faulty. Iyong decision maker ngayon, parang computer, garbage in at garbage out, nagdesisyon ng palpak. Damay-damay sila doon. At ang punto, gusto nating madiin iyong mensahe na mayroon kayong mga responsibilidad, mayroon kayong mga kakayahan. Dapat nagsasabi kayo ng totoo at sinasabi ninyo sa tamang oras para hindi pamarisan ng iba na para bang hindi siniseryoso ang kanilang mga obligasyon.

Q: … the punishment that Usec Puno got is not related to the Palace review? It’s parang a separate issue – iyong squabbling between—?

P-NOY: Well, iyong squabbling, iyong—

Q: Pero it’s not related to the Palace review?

P-NOY: In fairness to Undersecretary Puno, iyong number one—let’s look at ano. Is it expected that Undersecretary Puno would have assumed the function of the secretary of local government as far as iyong convening the national crisis committee was concerned? Don’t forget that the manual presently does not contain a provision saying, at this point, it should be elevated to. Who is supposed to say or to recommend that it should be transferred from the local to the national? Walang clarity iyan. So even if Secretary Robredo, for instance, decided to convene it, hindi ganoon ka-sigurado within the authorized activities under the crisis manual.

Now, Undersecretary Puno would even have less of a right. He was never trained as a hostage negotiator. There is no provision that says that you can designate him as the local crisis management chair. So, all of the things that I tasked him to do, amongst them, ano ba ang nangyayari diyan, ihanap mo ako ng liaison that can brief me constantly as to what is developing, that was done. Iyong team point, dapat sinigurado niyang nag-comply lahat ng mga nautusan. On three occasions, the official liaison said that the instructions were already complied with. There was no showing that he was told that the subordinate officers were not following it and did not act upon it. So ano ba ang puwede natin ikaso sa kaniya on that particular day? Siguro conversely – and I think everybody will agree – if it was resolved successfully, lahat itong mga kinakastigo siguro purong puri ang inabot. Siguro nga mali sa atin kung nakita natin may ganitong resulta, hindi natin in-address iyong mga pagkukulang ng sistema, ng kagamitan, ng pagsasanay ng lahat nang nasangkot dito. Kasama naman iyong mga LGU. Ano ba ang responsibilidad nila? Ano ba ang tasking nila?

At inaasahan natin mako-correct lahat na ito, at kino-correct na sa kasalukuyan para naman pag mayroon na pagsubok na dadaanan tayo ulit, ay hindi na ganito ka-sama ang naging resulta.

Q: What was the recommendation of the IIRC? Iyong recommended charges against Usec PUno?

P-NOY: I don’t have the copy of the report here, but what I do remember from my reading of it, one of the issues was he failed to ensure that my instructions were carried out by the subordinate officers.

Q: But you said he did what you ordered him to that day, di ba?

P-NOY: Christine, tingnan mo iyong situation ano. If he went there higher than Magtibay, then Mendoza conceivably could have said I want to talk to him and issue my demands to him. Baka lampas na doon sa judgment by the Omnudsman, di ba? Hindi natin alam kung ano puwede pa niyang hingiin. So Puno, like everybody else senior to Magtibay, was told not to be present so that the demands could be kept to that level, which was already difficult. That’s number one.

Number two, he goes in there – and if you read the crisis manual, what exactly is he empowered to do? And even if the secretary of local government—the secretary of local government only intervenes in the national crisis management committee. The manual naman is silent on when it can be activated and who is supposed to activate it. So I go back. He goes there. What exactly is he supposed to do? Or for that matter, if the secretary of local government was there, how can he suddenly say – unless, for instance, he was observing, and he felt that the LGU was not performing properly or, the ground commander was not acting accordingly, then he would have advised me. And perhaps, I would have ordered the national crisis management committee set up already or activated. Pero in that particular case nga, he could not act on his own initiative because the empowering provisions are not there in the manual that unfortunately, I think, has very limited distribution.

Q: Except for SPO2 Mendoza, all are administrative charges, di ba?

P-NOY: I think that’s correct.

Q: All the eight are administrative, including Mayor Lim? And no sanctions against Mr. Rogas and Mr. Tulfo?

P-NOY: We are hoping, as far as Mr. Rogas and Mr. Tulfo are concerned, that the company that they belong to, number one, and beyond that, the KBP and other watchdogs, will take the cudgels of demonstrating the result to act with more responsibility.

Iyong administrative, let me again emphasize; susubukan kong ipaliwanag iyong pagkapaliwanag sa akin. Reckless imprudence: uminom ako, nalasing ako, may nabundol ako. Iyong action ko ng pag-inom nag-result na may namatay na nabundol ko, direct, di ba? Ang tawag nila doon proiximate cause. Okay. Sino ang bumaril doon sa mga hostages? Lahat ng data natin sinasabi na si Captain Mendoza. So iyong pagkamatay directly attributable kay Captain Mendoza. Puwede ba natin kasuhan si Magtibay ng reckless imprudence? Ang pananaw ng lahat na abogadong kinunsulta namin, hindi iyong kakulangan ni Magtibay – iyong maling—kulang na mga direktiba. For instance, iyong kulang na pagtitingin doon sa capability noong kanilang SWAT, etc., hindi iyon ang diretsohang dahilan kung bakit patay itong lahat na mga hostages. Wala daw doon iyong proximate cause. Ipa-file mo sa korte, garantisadong matatalo. At i-review nga lahat na possible na criminal, at lumalabas, kung mayroon mang icha-charge, napakanipis. Iyong pruwebang magpapatunay noon lalong mas manipis. Inaksaya lang narin lahat ng oras ng lahat ng mga departamento at saka sangay ng gobyerno na dapat parang didinig nitong mga kasong ito. Naiwan tayo sa administrative.

Iyong administrative naman, one of the penalties for Magtibay, if he is found guilty of all of these, separation from service, forfeiture of all pay and benefits. Medyo malaking dagok doon sa taong almost at the end of his career. But the message has to be said. You accept the responsibility. Di ba when you accept the perks and privileges of the office, the duties and responsibilities are equally accepted by you? And you are responsible for your failure to carry it out – or if you exceeded.

Q: Sir, in case those indicted are not satisfied with the review of the Palace legal team, kanino po sila puwedeng mag-appeal?

PNOY: Doon sa body itself, iyong body will be given processes of law, there will be administrative proceedings, I guess is the technical term. Sa Korte kasi, preliminary investigation mula sa fiscal. Then, they go through, their rights will all be respected, no. Iyong rights for counsel for instance will be first and paramount, then at the end of the process there is a decision. Then they can go through the various agencies of the state, including the court, if they feel that there is injustice done to them.

Q: Sir, sa review ng Palace legal team, bale lumilitaw po ba na bale iyong pinaka-cause ng insidenteng ito iyong problema sa Ombudsman, parang iyong pagkakabinbin, pagpapatagal sa motion for reconsideration?

PNOY: Nandoon po sa IIRTC report, I think on the last page, second to the last and the last page. Ang sinasabi po doon sa IIRC report, Captain Mendoza was charged before three bodies …is one of them, I don’t know if there was a court, I am sorry I don’t remember the fact kung Court or Napolcom, and the Ombudsman. In two of the three proceedings, he was exonerated basically, because the complainant failed to subscribed to his affidavit, failed to appear. In the Ombudsman case, the complainant also did not show up. So nagkaroon ng decision, dismissal from the service, forfeiture of pay benefits, etc. Mendoza , under the rules of the Ombudsman, had the right to expect a review of the decision within five days. Alam naman natin, nine months hindi na-aksiyanan. Hindi siya makapunta sa higher court hanggang walang finality iyong decision. Hindi siya puwedeng mag-appeal. Talagang wala siyang mapuntahan, wala siyang malaktawan. Doon sa puntong iyon, ito ang nag-set ng chain, kailangan na akong gumawa ng desperate action dahil wala na akong mapuntahan talaga. He had something like a year to serve, tapos bigla na lang nullified lahat, iyong pay benefits, etc. Hindi natin masasabi na kulang ang batas natin. Mayroon ng procedure na inscribed in their own rules and regulation which they did not follow. So bakit natin sinasama ang Ombudsman at Deputy Ombudsman. Ultimately they are responsible. The Deputy Ombudsman…. and investigate. There is a law on the Ombudsman that authorizes the President. In the case of the Deputy Ombudsman, the special prosecutors, etc. The Ombudsman herself is an impeachable officer, … constitutional office. And the only avenue for investigating her would be Congress.

Q: Okay, last question po. So ang tingin ninyo na iyong nire-recommend ng Palace legal team na neglect of duty, hindi po ba mababaw, medyo mababang klase lang ho iyon?

PNOY : Iyong neglect kasi, may gross, may simple, masyadong maraming legal jargon dito. Pero sa mababaw, ito ang extent ng puwede nating mapatunayan. Kunwari iyong kay Magtibay. Kung sumunod siya, i-order niya iyong SAF, nagbago ba iyong outcome? Pinipilit ng ibang nag-review, bago in-employ ang Manila SWAT, marami ng putukan na nangyari sa loob. Mula doon sa unang putok hanggan sa nag-assault ang Mania SWAT, parang 30 minutes, 35 minutes. So maski in-employ mo ang SWAT, sobrang delay iyong pagkilos, hindi mo na rin magagarantiya na mabubuhay ang mga hostages. So gusto ko sanang sabihin na kumilos sila kaagaran. Pero ang dulo nga niyan, walang garantiya na nagbago ang outcome. So hindi mo puwedeng masabi na dahil sa ginawa niyang ito, ginarantiya niya na namatay ang mga hostages. So pagdating sa korte, paano mo idedemanda ang isang tao at sasabihin mo na baka nailigtas ang ibang mga hostages o nagbago ang resulta, would be one thing. So balik tayo, responsible kami dapat na magpi-file ka ng kaso na magpo-prosper. Pag pinasok mo nang manipis at halos siguradong mababale-wala at mababasura, di lalong walang nangyari naman sa pagpapadala ng mensahe sa lahat na mayroon kayong responsibilidad, mayroong kayong dapat na gampanan na tungkulin.

Q: If two mediamen showed irresponsibility bordering on the criminal, what message would the government be trying to make before the international community. Is the media untouchable?

PNOY: You know sa untouchable, we really value the sense of freedom. During my Mom’s time for instance, iyong total lack of freedom, na nagkaroon ng freedom, nagkaroon ng excess. Pero towards the end of her term, nagkaroon naman talaga ng self-relating at disciplining. Dito nagkaroon na tayo ng Peninsula incident at inaasahan natin na iyong napagkasunduan ay ipatutupad. Pero marami pa rin ang natukso na hindi puwedeng ma-skopan, kailangang makipagsabayan. Nakalimutan na hindi vacuum. Kumilos ka ng ganito, puwedeng may implications, puwedeng may repercussions. So sinasabi lang natin dito, pupunta ba tayo sa punto na gagawa tayo ng limitations kaagad sa karapatan ng ating press. Ayaw naman naming pasukan iyon. Kapag nakita naman natin dito tulad ng isang sector na nagsabing wala kaming kasalanan, huwag sana kaming mapilitan na talagang i-define. Pero future instances, kapag na at risk na kayo, iyong police powers ng estado ay very broad. Hindi lang powerful iyon, may obligasyon na pangalagaan ang seguridad ng lahat. At pag mayroon lumalabag at naglalagay sa sarili nila in danger, e parang ama, kailangan tayong magpakita ng kamalian ng anak.

Q: Sir on one hand, regarding Puno and Robredo, why keep them on their posts if they had showed failure and shortcomings and one of the first biggest crisis in your administration?

PNOY: Paano naman po ang mga success nila? For instance in the first three weeks, na-resolve natin ang extra-legal killings in half of the cases that happened in our watch. Nakalimutan ko na lang ba iyon? Hindi lang naman potential, may nagawa naming maganda. Tingnan na lamang ninyo iyong simpleng car-jacking attended with force, sa kapatid ni Sec. Romulo. Hindi ba na-solve kaagad iyon. Dito sa pagpaslang sa nalalapit na barangay election, natutukoy na kung ano ang election-related, kung alin ang dahilan sa ibang bagay. Tayo namang lahat ay tao, hindi naman tayo perpekto, may pagkakamali, may magandang nagagawa. Si Jess Robredo ho, sa informal settlers sa Naga, iyong unang grupo ng informal settlers, natapos na po nila ang problema. Iyong mga anak na ang hina-handle nilang problema. So dahil dito,

sasabihin ko, iyong expertise mo Jesse, hindi ko na gagamitin. Eh 500,000 families ang ating informal settlers at P200,000 per family to relocate. At ang 500,000, mukhang iyon ang low figure multiplied by 5, typical family. That is the amount of the population that has a problem in informal settling. A lot of them pa doon sa danger areas like Lupang Arienda. Doon ang latest figure namin is over 300,000 families. Saan mo ilalagay, paano mo ilalagay, paano mo kukunbinsihin, saan ang pera. Mayroon nang dumaan doon at successful, in the person of Mr. Jesse Robredo. Should I remove him?

Q: Mr. President, good afternoon. Sir, you gave instructions to Secretary Robredo and Undersecretary Puno to work together this time. Sir, can we take this to mean that one of them or both of them would be let go the next time any sign of squabbling happens in the department?

PNOY: Siguro part of what I told them last night, itong trabaho natin ay talagang maraming intrigador eh, kayo naman para kayong bagong salta na hindi pa kayo nasanay. Huwag kayong magpapagatong. Huwag kayong magiging desperate. Huwag kayong magiging frustrated. Ngayon in the case of ano, both of them have been in severe pressure. Iyong Secretary Puno’s, for instance, mother is not a young person, is recovering from the loss of Rico’s father about two years ago; adjusting to life without the husband. Siyempre anak niya ang involve dito, talagang grabe iyong pressure na inabot. So, ako medyo natututo pa rin ako sa inyo (unclear), hindi ba. Sila ay hindi pa (unclear) directly in this much attention. So, inuunawa ko rin. Pero (unclear) behavior, patterns of behavior, patterns of iyong, hindi ba parang tama at responsible na actions that I expect of them. And they gave me a commitment na kakayanin nila at kinakaya nila, kung hindi, eh di magpapaalamanan na kami.

Q: Sir, just a follow up. When you said that you refer to the Napolcom the filing of charges to the police officers and to the DILG the filing of the administrative charges against Mayor Lim. Are you, in fact, recommending that they be charged administratively?

PNOY: That is the message; we’re going through the process. Actually, I’m not referring; I am ordering that it be transferred to the appropriate bodies tasked by our laws to discipline erring members. So, Mayor Lim falls under the purview of review by the DILG. The police officers have the Napolcom as the body that determines their fate.

Q: Sir, good afternoon, Mr. President. Sir, just your reaction. Kasi before pa mailabas ito, may reaction si Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz saying that he sees no reason para hindi i-uphold iyong rekumendasyon ng IIRC, considering na naging mabusisi iyong imbestigasyon and at the same, headed by prosecutors and even lawyers compared to sa ginawa ng legal team ninyo? What can you say to this na parang—

PNOY: Puwede bang pamasko ko na lang kay Archbishop Cruz ay hindi na ako magkumentaryo sa kaniya. Dahil sa totoo lang naman po–pasensya na po kayo kasi tinuruan akong galangin ang ga miyembro ng simbahan po natin, lalo na ang nakakatanda sa atin. Pero kayo na ang magsabi, kailan po ba siya nagsabi nang maayos tungkol sa anumang ginawa natin? Ngayon, konti lang pagsisiyasat, sana binasa po niya ang ginawa ng akin legal team at iyong IIRC. Ano po ba ang binaliktad namin sa sinabi ng IIRC? They said, file the appropriate criminal and administrative cases, and we did that. We looked for criminal cases that can be filed. We assessed whether or not this will prosper. So, what is he talking about? Uulitin ko lang po, ako naman po ay baka dumating sa estado po niya na nag-iisa, matanda, sinunod ko po kasi iyong grumpy old man, at pipilitin ko pong unawain siya every time. Siguro, paalala lang po natin sa bibliya, nakalagay naman po iyon, blessed are the persecuted. Thank you po sa kaniya, mabe-bless po ako.

Q: Good afternoon, Mr. President. Sir, during your meeting with Secretary Robredo and Usec. Puno, did they admit to having some differences or some sort of conflict given their respective roles in the DILG?

PNOY: Part of it is iyong miscommunication. Absence of communication also. Siguro further definition of what each one is supposed to be doing at this point in time, clarification noon, procedures that resolving if there are disputes. Ni-reemphasize ko din iyong ordinate and subordinate positions ng dalawa, meaning may boss, mayroong subordinate naman.

Q: Sir, another one. Will you be directing an investigation on the leaks that came out on the IIRC report?

PNOY: It’s ongoing.

Q: Ongoing na po, sir. Sir, kasama na rin po ba iyong … can we expect the results of the leak of the SONA that was earlier ordered?

PNOY: Hopefuly. Alam mo, I cannot tell you what we are doing. Ang problema kasi doon, iyong siyempre, iyong mga nagba-violate ng pagtitiwala sa kanila ayaw mabuko. Kung sasabihin ko naman paano namin hinahanap itong mga bantay-salakay na ito eh parang pinahirapan ko naman iyong trabaho ng mga nag-iimbestiga.

Q: So, sir, are you implying that those maybe some Palace officials, sir? And, sir, ano po ang magiging sanctions nila kung mapatunayan na galing sa Palasyo ang leak?

PNOY: The basis of all the relationships has to be trust. We deal with matters here that affect the state, becomes a national security issue. Hindi ba, if you don’t have the trust and confidence of the appointing authority, you have no basis to be here.

Q: Good afternoon, sir. Bale po ba, binalewala po ninyo lahat ng ginawa ng mga opisyal o mga police officers during the hostage crisis lalung-lalo na si Isko Moreno na ngayon ay lalagyan pa ninyo ng kaso?

PNOY: Walang kaso pong nirerekumenda kay Isko.

Q: So, sir, when are you planning to receive iyon … kailan po matatanggap iyong report ng Hong Kong nationals regarding the incident? Kasi naipangako po nila na magbibigay din sila ng report.

PNOY: If they give it, when they give it, I have no power to compel them to submit it to me at the soonest possible time.

Q: Okay, sir. Ano po ang masasabi ninyo sa sinabi po ang fact finding ay isang fault-finding committee?

PNOY: Ano po ba ang alternative? Balewalain natin matuto ng mga leksyon dito. Para sa akin po, italaga natin iyong sisi sa tamang kinauukulan. Anong ibig sabihin noon? Kung medyo hindi ganoon kabuo ang loob ng assaulting team, tanong natin bakit? Ano ang bakit doon: may riple ang kalaban, ang kanilang vest pang-pistol lang. Actually sa lahat ng nag-assault ni-isa walang flash light eh gabi na, madilim iyong bus. Puwede ba nating isisi iyon. Pero puwede nating isisi iyong basis. Simula ng nagkaroon nitong mga SWAT teams, for instance may nare-rescue na mga hostages, iyong rescued hostages ang nagiging immediate source ng timely intelligence. Nasaan ba iyong kalaban? Paano ba niya binarricade iyong mga entry? Paano nakaposisyon iyong mga hostages? Wala pong nagtanong eh. Wala pong nagtanong din sa may-ari ng bus iyong physical attributes ng bus na ito, nandoon lang sa paligid nila. Iyon po ba ay fault finding pa iyon o medyo fact finding as to how all of these events led to the tragedy. Bottom line po noon, kailangan nating malaman iyong problema, tulad ng sinasabi ko, at i-identify ng tama para tama din po ang solusyon. Ngayon po, isisi natin iyong mga responsibilidad na hindi ginawa. Kasama na po dito iyong mga nag-design ng test para doon sa mga vest na ginagamit ng PNP, iyong bids and awards committee at iyong processes nila. Marami pa pong ireresulta ito, hindi lang po iyong mag nirekumenda natin today.

Q: Sir, can you say na wala pong kinalaman iyong closeness ninyo kay Usec. Puno sa pagkakaabsuwelto po sa kanya?

PNOY: Wala pong kinalaman iyon.

Q: Tapos, sir, puwedeng another topic po. What’s your response to calls to put Cotabato under Martial Law because of the rampant kidnappings and violent incidents?

PNOY: I have to check my data. Pero si Raul Bacalzo, Chief PNP, has been updating the same. There’s a successful resolution, I think, of the Cotabato case. Iyong rampant, parang two or three incidents (unclear). And that is just one area that we are looking at and focusing on. Pero iyong pag-activate ng mga crisis committees to include the provincial crisis committee has already been done. I think they have been handling it well. I think there, again, was a successful resolution.

Q: Sir, since the IIRC report was reviewed and modified by the Presidential Legal team, what were the specific strong points of the IIRC report prepared by the group headed by Justice De Lima? What were its specifics weak points? And how was it specifically strengthened by the Palace legal team?

PNOY: Number one, Secretary De Lima is a secretary, she’s not a member of any court.

Q: Sorry.

PNOY: Baka naman bukas may magsasabi I’m going to appoint her to the Supreme Court. I don’t think we modified substantially what IIRC did. There was a recitation of facts and that was accepted en toto, meaning, in its entirety. The recommendations are to file appropriate, and I think we did that. the appropriate administrative cases have a basis in the pertinent rules and regulations and which will prosper para walang frivolous lawsuits. Strengths and weaknesses, we were working under intense pressure. It was physically draining kasi they had a deadline and they had so much information. The strengths are they unearthed a lot of information that we were not privy to at the time of the immediate aftermath of this incident. So, they did their functions. They highlighted systemic flaws, institutional flaws, as well as iyong personal flaws that we are hoping to address holistically and completely at the fastest possible time.

Q: Clarification lang. Mananatili bang acting si Secretary Robredo?

P-NOY: I think that’s the appropriate decision at this point in time.

Q: So he’s still under observation. Tama po ba iyan?

P-NOY: Both of them are under observation.

Q: You mentioned earlier that you’ll be establishing a presidential situation room.

P-NOY: It is already established.

Q: May we know the composition? And in what instances will the situation room be convened?

P-NOY: It’s not convened. It’s an office manned by personnel from various intelligence agencies who apprise me of all developments around the country and as far as iyong international incidents that might have an impact on the operations of the country. It updates me daily. It has been, in fact, an office about two weeks or so if I am not mistaken.