MANILA, Philippines -- Except for Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay and Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa, none of the officials implicated in the August 23 hostage fiasco at the Quirino Grandstand had accepted responsibility, President Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on Monday.

?None so far...only General Magtibay and, I understand, PNP (Philippien National Police) chief Verzosa who has opted for early retirement,'' Lacierda told reporters.

Days after the hostage drama that claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong tourists and hostage taker (dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza), Magtibay, who served as ground commander of the policemen deployed during the hostage crisis, had asked and eventually got his request to be relieved as former chief of the Manila Police District. He has since been replaced.

Verzosa, who has opted for early retirement long before the hostage crisis, has accepted responsibility and accountability for the fiasco.

This was also the same response that Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma gave to Radyo Inquirer on Monday.

?It's only General Magtibay (who offered to resign),'' Coloma told Radyo Inquirer.

Lacierda said that President Aquino would wait for the conclusion of the investigation being done by Incident Investigation and Review committee led by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima before he takes any action.

But Lacierda stressed the investigation would determine who should be held accountable for the bungled negotiations and police assault.