Admin cases filed vs Lim, 4 cops for botched bus hostage rescue

MANILA, Philippines—The administrative cases filed against Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, three police officials and a police officer in connection with the botched Quirino Grandstand hostage rescue on August 23, 2010 are still pending.

President Benigno Aquino had them charged administratively for the poorly executed rescue which resulted in the death of eight tourists from Hong Kong and dismissed senior inspector Rolando Mendoza who took the foreigners hostage inside a tourist bus in Manila.

Seven other tourists were injured in the televised rescue attempt by the Manila Police District.

In an August 18 memorandum, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo informed presidential spokesman Edwin Laciedra that only the case of Director Leocadio Santiago Jr. had been resolved.

Santiago, who was chief of the National Capital Region Police Office at the time, served an 11-day suspension meted by the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service for less grave neglect of duty.

Lim, who was charged with simple neglect and misconduct being the crisis management committee head, had only recently submitted his memorandum to the Department of Interior and Local Government after presenting witnesses and documentary evidence during the hearings.

The last hearing was held in July.

Robredo said they are still reviewing Lim’s memorandum which he submitted on August 6.

The others charged are Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, then head of the Manila Police District, for serious neglect of duty and gross incompetence; Superintendent Orlando Yebra, then hostage negotiator, for serious neglect of duty, serious irregularity in the performance of duty and gross incompetence; Chief Insp. Santiago Pascual III, then commander of the Manila Police District Special Weapons and Tactics, for gross incompetence; and Senior Police Officer 2 Gregorio Mendoza for grave misconduct and serious neglect of duty.

Robredo said the National Police Commission has so far held 13 hearings, the last one on June 21. He said the prosecution side was supposed to submit its formal offer of evidence in July.