Officials charged over hostage rescue fiasco

Philippine President Benigno Aquino yesterday said a fact-finding panel had recommended charges against top officials for a tourist bus hijacking fiasco that left eight Hong Kong hostages dead.

A former national police chief and other senior police officials, an undersecretary of the interior, the mayor of Manila and two broadcasters were among a dozen people who could face charges following the report, Mr Aquino said.

Parts of the findings published online offered a scathing indictment of the Philippine police response to the hijacking, accusing the force of negligence, insubordination and failing to gather intelligence as the crisis unfolded.

“We are committed to implementing the necessary changes to upgrade the capabilities of our local government units, police and security forces, to ensure the safety of the public,” Ms Aquino told a news conference.

Speaking shortly before leaving for the US, Ms Aquino said investigators had recommended criminal or civil charges against 12 people.

A Hong Kong government spokesman welcomed the report but called on authorities to do more to ascertain whether the hijacker was responsible for all the casualties.

Ms Aquino said he had ordered his legal advisers to determine what charges could be filed.

“I want to emphasise that I do not want to make decisions regarding such important matters without a thorough review. I will study their findings upon my return, and decide accordingly,” he added.

Sacked police officer Rolando Mendoza seized a busload of tourists in central Manila on August 23 in a desperate bid to get his job back and get himself cleared on extortion charges.

Police eventually shot Mendoza dead, but not until after he had killed eight hostages and wounded seven more in a drama played out on live television.