PRESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has forwarded the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) report to his legal team for review and will be acted on upon his return from a seven-day working visit to the United States.
The President issued the statement Monday afternoon hours before his departure for San Francisco where he will take another plane for New York.
President Aquino said he has directed Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo De Mesa to review and make recommendations on the IIRC report.
When asked to comment on the IIRC report, the President emphasized that he will not make decisions on such important matters without a thorough review.
He added that upon his return from the US, his first priority is to study the findings of his legal team on the recommendatory report of the IIRC and act on it accordingly. The result of the legal team’s evaluation and recommended course of action will also be released at that time.
After reviewing the IIRC report, the President assured his administration’s commitment to implement the necessary changes to upgrade the capabilities of the local government units, the police and security forces to ensure the safety of the public.
He said efforts are now being made to improve the procedures and protocols for emergency and crisis situations which will eventually lead to drafting a new crisis management manual.
The IIRC recommended the filing of administrative and criminal charges against former PNP Chief Jesus Versoza, General Rodolfo Magtibay, NCRPO Chief Leocadio Santiago, Supt. Orlando Yebra, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and Broadcasters Erwin Tulfo and Michael Rogas and the big three television networks which covered the bus hostage-taking crisis. (PCOO/PIA)
