Category: Philippine National Police

Hong Kong leader Tsang’s phone calls stopped with President Aquino’s aides

Published by Ellen on August 26, 2010

Update: Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma issued the following statement on Inquirer’s story on his statement re President Aquino’s failure to take HK’s Donald Tsang’s call last Monday. See story in the comments:

The headline of this story is not correct.

When I was interviewed over ABS-CBN this morning, I did not state nor imply any “doubts (that the) HK chief called (President) Aquino during (the) hostage crisis” last Monday, August 23.

The report quotes me as having said, “Di kapanipaniwala yan dahil ‘accessible’ siya sa lahat ng oras.” (That is unbelievable because the President is accessible all the time).

What I referred to as being unbelievable was the claim published in earlier newspaper reports that President Aquino was “inaccessible” at that time.

The following story came out in the South China Morning Post today, Aug. 26, 2010:

[Raissa’s note: I am posting this with the permission of my editor. Just to clarify, I did talk to foreign affairs spokesman Ed Malaya to get the department perspective but he declined to comment. ]

It was the case of the telephone calls that didn’t get through.

An anxious Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was never put through to Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Monday. Despite at least two phone calls, Aquino’s aides did not tell their head of state that Hong Kong’s leader needed to speak to him.

This is how it all started:

It is 4pm – the hostage crisis has lasted for more than five hours. Tsang, watching the drama unfold on television, is desperate to contact the new Philippines leader.

Jackie Chan, a voice of reason and friendship in times of sorrow and recrimination

Published by Ellen on August 25, 2010

by TJ Dimacali
GMANews TV

Action movie superstar Jackie Chan provided a voice of reason and extended a hand of friendship to Filipinos over the recent hostage crisis via his verified Twitter account, @EyeOfJackieChan.

Jackie Chan explained that he had just arrived in Hong Kong from South Korea and was shocked to learn of the tragic hostage crisis last August 23 that left eight tourists from Hong Kong dead.

Making up to Hongkong (subtitle:Donald Tsang who?)

Published by Ellen on August 24, 2010

President Aquino yesterday called up Donald Tsang, chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, to personally express his condolences to the families of eight Hongkong residents who died last Monday in Manila after they were held hostage by a dismissed policeman while on a sightseeing tour.

Malacañang also said they will be sending a high-level delegation to Hongkong to meet with Tsang, who had demanded a “full account” of last Monday tragedy.

Hongkong newspapers carried Tsang’s statement saying Monday, he had been trying to contact Aquino “since 4pm ..but all efforts failed.” He said the way the Aquino government handled the hostage situation was “regrettable” and “disappointing.”

Told about Tsang’s statement, Aquino said he did not know about Tsang’s call and that nobody told him about it.

Inquiries about the incident revealed that while the hostage situation was going on, Aquino was closely monitoring it, and he was talking with police authorities constantly. He told his staff that he won’t be taking any calls unless it’s extremely important.

Tumbukin ang problema

Published by Ellen on August 24, 2010

Iba-iba ang opinyun sa nangyari kahapon sa panhu-hostage ngunit lahat naman sang-ayon na ang nagpaglala ng isang delikado na na sitwasyun ay ang pag-aresto ng mga pulis sa kapatid ng hostage-taker.

Ang nang hostage ay si dating Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza. Ang kanyang kapatid naman na nasa Manila Police Department traffic bureau ay si SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza.

Ang sama kasi ng pagkahuli ng pulis na kuhang-kuha sa TV na pinapanoon naman ni Rolando sa bus. Hapon nang pumunta si Gregorio sa Luneta nang mabalitaan niya sa radio na nag-hostage ang kapatid niya. Noong una, pinayagan pang mga pulis si Gregorio na maka-usap si Rolando . Pinaki-usapan nga niya nga na palawigin ang deadline lampas sa alas-tres ng hapon na kanyang unang binigay na pumayag naman.

Nag-iba ang takbo ng sitwasyun nang inaresto ng mga pulis si Gregorio at sinabing kakasuhan daw ng pakikipagsabwatan kay Rolando. Siyempre natakot si Gregorio lalo pa nang dinadaan daw siya sa likuran ng presinto. Sa takot niya, tumakbo siya sa media na nagku-cover.

Nang pinapanood ko ang pag-aresto kay Gregorio, naala-ala ko ang eksena ng paghablot ng mga kamag-anak ng asawa ni Ted Failon habang sila ay nagbabantay sa kanilang naghiningalong kapatid sa hospital.

Statement of the President on the hostage-taking incident at the Quirino Grandstand

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2010

Aquino says brother of hostage taker and media fueled tense situation

With the rest of the Filipino people, I wish to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims whose lives were lost in the hostage situation at the Quirino Grandstand. The Secretary of Foreign Affairs has conveyed our deep feelings of sorrow to the Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China and the people of Hong Kong through Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang. I have tasked Secretaries Soliman and Lim to provide everything necessary for the recovery and return home of the survivors. I have directed the fullest cooperation with the Hong Kong authorities on the part of our officials.

From the onset of this incident, the hostage-taker seemed to not be belligerent, as shown by the release of hostages. These were encouraging signs.

We were going to wait him out. The idea was to let the ground commanders who are the experts in this field handle the operation with minimal interference from people who are less expert.

Hostage taking is turning for the worse

Published by Ellen on August 23, 2010

Hostage taking crisis is turning for the worse after relatives of the hostage taker were bodily arrested by the police. The bus driver was able…

PNP’s Hawaii Five-O?

Published by Ellen on June 27, 2010

I got this paper titled, “Unmasking the Hawaii Five-O” from a source in the Philippine National Police. I am sure PNP Chief Jesus Versoza who is assured of staying on under the Aquino administration knows about the existence of this group in the police organization.

I was given names composing the group. The one that got my attention was that of Chief Superintendent Leocadio Santiago, Jr. commander of the Special Action Force. I remember him because he was the one who ordered that media be handcuffed during the Nov. 29, 2007 Manila Peninsula incident.

The cry for genuine reforms of the people behind this paper is clear enough:

Update on Mrs. Domingo’s traumatic experience with policemen

Published by Ellen on May 18, 2010

Remember the incident related by JJ Domingo, a student of international relations in Japan last month when his mother, also based in Japan, came home to attend his sister’s graduation and to seek second opinion of Filipino doctors on her cancer?

To recall, Mrs. Domingo went a friend named Janet who lives in a slum area in Tandang Sora, Quezon City to collect money owed her because she needs money for her medication. She was accompanied by a friend, Maximo Gabriel.

JJ related, “Just when my mother and Gabriel were about to leave Janet’s place, two plain-clothed policemen- one called Allan and another named Mar Palic- approached them, accusing them of drug possession. My mother and her friends aghastly denied this, and before the two cops could search them they showed their bags to the police officers and emptied their pockets to show that there was nothing incriminating inside. Still, the cops ‘invited’ them for questioning.”

Pray that this does not happen to your mother

Published by Ellen on April 29, 2010

JJ Domingo, a 20-year old student of international relations, relates in his Facebook wall the harrowing experience of his mother in the hands of people who introduced themselves as members of the Quezon City police.

JJ , who is now in Japan with his mother, said he has emailed this narration to the Philippine National Police and to the Napolcom. So far, he has not received any response.

He is also sending it to the Commission on Human Rights.

Here his story about what he said was the “arbitrary detention and extortion” of his mother by men who are supposed to protect her from lawless elements:

“When my mother went to the Philippines to attend the graduation ceremony of my sister and to seek the opinion of Filipino doctors on her mild cancer two weeks ago, she had no idea she was in for the shock of her life.

Nakakarma na si Gloria Arroyo

Published by Ellen on March 24, 2010

Ang balita kung sino-sino na raw ang kumaka-usap kay Philippine National Police Chief Jesus Versoza na mag-resign para mailagay na ni Gloria Arroyo bilang PNP Chief si NCR Chief Roberto Rosales.

Kinausap na siya ni Local Governments Secretary Ronaldo Puno. Pati na raw ang anak ni Gloria Arroyo na si Mikey, congressman ng Pampanga (2nd district) ay kuma-usap na rin kay Versoza.

Sana hindi magpa-pressure si Versoza dahil Disyembre 2010 pa siya dapat mag-retire.

Si Rosales ay kasama sa Class ’78 ng Philippine Military Academy na honorary member si Arroyo.

Galit kasi si Arroyo kay Versoza. Hindi dumalo si Arroyo sa graduation ceremonies ng Philippine National Police Academy noong Marso 18 sa Camp Castañeda, Silang Cavite. Sa anibersaryo naman ng Philippine Army noong Lunes,binati niya ang lahat na mga matataas na opisyal maliban kay Versoza.