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PNoy decision to temper the IIRC recommendations has created more problems than solutions

Press Release

  

          The decision of President Benigno Aquino III to temper the recommendations of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee IIRC on the fatal hostage fiasco by clearing Undersecretary Rico Puno of the Department of Interior and Local Government and retired PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa of culpability has created more problems than solutions according to Minority Leader Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman.

           “The inordinately delayed decision of President Aquino disparages the recommendations of the IIRC, his own Presidential committee, even as the unreasonable delay in the release to the public of the full text of the report particularly the substantial parts on “Recommendations” and “Conclusions on Responsibility” makes the President’s ultimate action suspect,” Lagman said.

           Lagman asked “why were Puno and Verzosa, the two most ranking officials recommended by the IIRC to face charges, spared while lesser officials were held culpable by the President?”

           Puno was handpicked by President Aquino to be in charge of police matters as DILG Undersecretary while Verzosa headed the Philippine National Police when the hostage taking incident occurred on August 23, 2010.

           “The death of eight foreign tourists due to the irresponsible handling of the crisis situation makes it hard to justify the President’s action to exculpate everyone involved from criminal negligence,” Lagman added.

           The Minority Leader said that it would have been better had the President endorsed the IIRC recommendations on the criminal liability of the officials involved to the prosecution arm of the government for appropriate disposition instead of his “exercising quasi-judicial powers.”

           Lagman urged the House Committee on Public Order and Safety and Good Government to immediately start the Congressional inquiry on the incident in order that the Congress can make its own independent assessment in aid of legislation and determine the administrative and criminal culpability of errant officials.