MANILA, Philippines?Presidient Aquino is to hold a live panel interview with the media on Thursday on the Aug. 23 hostage-taking tragedy at Quirino Grandstand.

It's going to be a "no-holds-barred'' interview with President Aquino, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said on Wednesday.

Lacierda said the President was ready to answer questions about the incident.

The panel interview will be led by broadcast stations ABS-CBN, GMA 7 and TV-5.

The interview will be conducted by Ted Failon of ABS-CBN, Mike Enriquez of GMA 7 and Paolo Bediones of TV-5.

After the interview, President Aquino will proceed to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig to observe the capability of the Special Action Force on handling hostage situations, he said.

Earlier President Aquino told reporters that his government will show soon the SAF's upgraded capability to operate in hostage situations.

The Aquino administration is under fire for the way it handled the hostage crisis that ended with the death of eight Hong Kong tourists and hostage taker, dismissed Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza.