MANILA, Philippines ? Malacañang indicated on Thursday that the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was also to blame for the bloody end of Monday?s hostage-taking drama at Rizal Park in Manila.

"I would like to point out that the administration of Benigno Aquino III is just 55 days old while Arroyo's administration lasted for nine years. We just inherited the state of the Philippine National Police,'' Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Palace communications and operations office told the ABS-CBN morning news program "Umagang Kay Ganda.''

"The previous administration should also answer for what they did [for the police]. Did they provide enough funds for the modernization of the PNP or did it waste funds for cases like the euro-generals and other corruption cases?'' Coloma also said.

He said there was a need to uncover the truth on this thing "as this will serve as guide for us to enhance the capability of our police forces.''

Coloma made the statements after he pointed out that one of the significant findings in the aftermath of the bus siege drama was the lack of capability and lack of preparations of the SWAT and Special Action Forces which he also said was also a result of the "limitation of the situation.''

It was the first time that the Palace sought to blame the previous administration for the bloody end of the 11-hour standoff that claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong tourists and the hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza.