Updates on the DILG’s actions with respect to the President’s directives on the August 23, 2011 Quirino Grandstand hostage-taking incident
1. On the directive to conduct a formal investigation against the following:
a. Mayor Alfredo Lim of the City of Manila
The formal investigation against Mayor Lim commenced in November 2010. On November 18, 2010, the DILG issued an order directing Mayor Lim to submit within 15 days upon receipt of the same, his verified answer to the IIRC Report dated September 17, 2010, and the OP’s review of the said report dated October 8, 2010.
Administrative charges for Simple Neglect and Misconduct (Section 60 of RA 7160) have been filed against Mayor Lim in relation to the Rizal Park Hostage-Taking Incident (DILG Adm. Case No. C-01-10). On February 28, 2011, a preliminary conference was held at the DILG Legal Service where Mayor Lim was represented by his legal counsels. The DILG found the manifestation of Mayor Lim’s counsels to file a motion to request for the pertinent available records, meritorious and, thereby, gave Mayor Lim 15 days within which to file his motion to request for pertinent available records and another 15 days from receipt of the requested record, to file his proposed stipulation of facts and issues.
On June 20, 2011, the above-mentioned case was called to order for the presentation of evidence for the respondent. The counsel for the respondent presented Mayor Lim and several witnesses, who affirmed their respective affidavits/sworn statements relevant to the case. He further moved for the continuation of the proceeding as one of the witnesses for the respondent was not available to affirm his affidavit. The motion was granted and the next hearing was set on July 8, 2011.
During the July 8, 2011 hearing, the latest hearing on the case, counsels for the Mayor Lim presented the mayor’s evidence and last two witnesses. Having presented his last witnesses as well as submitted his marked documentary evidence, the respondent was directed to file his Memorandum within 30 days from the time of the hearing (July 8, 2011). After the respondent has submitted his Memorandum, the instant administrative case is deemed submitted for resolution.
On August 5, 2011, Mayor Lim submitted his Memorandum which is already being reviewed and/or evaluated by the DILG-Legal Service.
b. P/Dir. Leocadio Santiago, Jr.; P/CSupt Rodolfo Magtibay; P/Supt Orlando Yebra; P/CInsp Santiago Pascual; SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza
P/Dir. Leocadio Santiago, Jr.
The National Police Commission, after a thorough study of the documents forwarded by the IIRC and the recommendations of the Hon. Executive Secretary and the Chief, Presidential Legal Counsel, concurred with the latter’s recommendations that P/Dir. Santiago may be held liable for Less Grave Neglect of Duty. As this was a less grave administrative offense, the case was referred to the PNP Internal Affairs Service which has jurisdiction over less grave offenses.
The PNP Internal Affairs Service issued its Decision on Admin Case No. QR1000227 finding respondent P/Dir. Santiago liable for Simple Neglect of Duty. He was meted with the penalty of 11 days Suspension from the Police Service pursuant to Rule 21, 1(A)1a of NAPOLCOM Memorandum 2007-001.
P/CSupt Rodolfo Magtibay, et. al.
The following cases were filed by the NAPOLCOM:
P/CSupt Magtibay – SD Case No. 2010-2103 – Serious Neglect of Duty and Gross Incompetence
P/Supt Orlando Yebra – SD Case No. 2010-2104 – Serious Neglect of Duty; Serious Irregularity in the Performance of Duty and Gross Incompetence
P/CInsp Santiago Pascual – SD Case No. 2010-2105 – Gross Incompetence
SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza – SD Case No. 2010-2106 – Grave Misconduct and Serious Neglect of Duty
An ADHOC Committee has been formed to conduct the formal hearing and reception of evidence on the above-mentioned cases. It had already conducted 13 hearings with respect to the cases against the subject policemen, the last of which was on June 23, 2011. In the course of the said hearings, the prosecution presented 12 witnesses and rested its case on June 23, 2011 with the undertaking to submit its formal offer of evidence within 30 days thereafter.
2. On the measures being taken by the DILG to enhance the safety of tourists, including tourists from Hongkong:
a. The DILG-PNP has been vigorously implementing the PNP Letter of Instructions “Bantay Turista”, which sets the police operational guidelines to protect and ensure the safety of tourists, both foreign and local, including Hongkong nationals, and maintain peace and order in all tourist destinations.
It has also intensified its operations to neutralize the “Bundol Gang”, the modus operandi of which is to victimize peoples, especially tourists, who have just arrived from the airport, by pretending to accidentally bump the vehicles of their victims, just to announce that hold-up is taking place.
b. The DILG Local Government Academy, in consultation with the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), and the PNP, has implemented Workshops on Crisis Management for Local Government Units (LGU). The objective of these Workshops is to raise awareness of local government officials and functionaries on their roles and functions in handling crisis incidents, particularly manmade crisis incidents such as kidnapping, carnapping, hostage-taking, and bombing.
To date, the workshops were already held in four provinces, 13 cities and a municipality namely:
- Region 3 - Provinces of Pampanga and Zambales; and Cities of Angeles, San Fernando and Olongapo
- Region 4-A- Cities of Batangas, Calamba, and Lucena; and Municipality of Cainta, Rizal province
- Region 6 - Bacolod City
- Region 7 - Cities of Mandaue, Cebu, and Tagbilaran
- Region 10 - Cagayan De Oro City
- Region 11 - Davao City
- Region 12 - Provinces of South Cotabato and North Cotabato; and Cotabato City
c. The DILG has also been implementing procurement reforms, to ensure that the equipment and other logistics support being purchased or to be purchased correspond to the actual needs of the recipient police units, among others. The reforms shall also ensure the purchase of the most reliable and cost efficient equipment for the PNP.
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