MANILA, Philippines?Embattled Metro Manila police commander Director Leocadio Santiago on Friday revealed that he offered to leave his post two days after the hostage carnage in Manila, where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed.

In a phone interview, Santiago disclosed that in his discussion with President Benigno Aquino III, the president said that he would still have to look into the whole situation.

Reports that he had resigned, Santiago said, were "taken out of context."

Asked if he was ready to leave his post, he said, "If it is necessary for him to remove me, then I will leave. He is my commander-in-chief," he said, referring to Aquino.

Santiago was among the ranking police officers who drew flak due to the bungled rescue of Hong Kong tourists last August 23, where former policeman Rolando Mendoza held them captive for almost 12 hours.