Statement of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo:
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo today expressed his gratitude to President Benigno S. Aquino, III for absolving him of accountability on the botched police negotiations during the August 23 Manila hostage crisis.
“I appreciate the President’s clarification of my role as the one primarily in charge of local governments, rather than the police,” said Robredo. “My mandate was clear from the very start and since the directive of the President is such, we will have to comply by it,” added Robredo and further debunking a radio report today that said Robredo merely wanted local governments.
Earlier, the President defended the DILG Secretary from statements that he should not be part of the investigating team on the hostage tragedy because of his lapses as DILG chief.
Aquino said it was Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno whom he designated in charge of the police because he wanted Robredo to concentrate on the concerns of local government units.
Asked whether Puno should be held accountable, Aquino said “partly” because he was in charge of the police during the incident.
Robredo co-chairs the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima probing the Manila hostage fiasco that resulted in the killing of eight Hong Kong nationals and the hostage taker.
Other members of the IIRC are Teresita Ang See, representing the Filipino Chinese community; Herman Basbaño, president of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and Integrated Bar of the Philippines governor for Eastern Mindanao Rowan Libarios
******
From ABS-CBN:
Rico Puno qualified to handle peace and order – Palace
Despite the botched police rescue of Hong Kong tourists, Malacañang believes Rico Puno is qualified for his post as Interior and Local Government undersecretary for peace and order.
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma said Puno has the experience and skill to oversee various agencies under the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) such as the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Philippine Public Safety College.
Coloma issued the statement amid the ongoing political backlash caused by the August 23 hostage crisis in Manila.
Puno was the Palace’s point man in the crisis management committee that handled efforts to convince former police officer Rodolfo Mendoza to free the Hong Kong tourists he held hostage.
DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo earlier said that he was “out of the loop” in the hostage negotiations, and that Puno was assigned to monitor the crisis.
Coloma said critics who question Puno’s leadership skills should “justify their claim”.
Puno background
Puno’s curriculum vitae, which the Presidential Communications Office gave to journalists, shows that the DILG deputy chief was a “long-time consultant” of then-Senator Benigno Aquino III in the upper chamber’s Committee on Public Order and Safety and Dangerous Drugs and Special Oversight on Economic Affairs body.
According to the document, Puno “reviewed and analyzed the pertinent laws and polices of the Dangerous Drugs Board,” and advised Aquino in the Senate Committee on Public Order and Safety.
He also served as the “overall ground commander” in Aquino’s 2007 senatorial campaign.
Puno was president of Far East Ballistics Corporation from 1992 to 1995, where “he implemented polices for improvement and development in the production of ammunition.”
He was also board member of the National Range Officers Institute at Philippine Practical Shooting Association, and was involved in the staging of shooting competitions in the country and abroad.
He is a known gun enthusiast, reports said.
Coloma, however, stressed that “Puno reports to Robredo,” and that the DILG chief had an oversight function during the hostage crisis.
Aquino earlier said he ordered Robredo to “rein in” a high-ranking National Police Commission official who was meddling in the negotiations for the release of the hostages.
This kind of set up where President Aquino created a sub-kingdom within a kingdom won’t work. And that is shown in the hostage crisis debacle.
How can one be in charge of local governments and not also be in charge of the police, who are responsible for peace and order.
Puno is P-Noy’s shooting buddy. And good friends with many police officers. That’s why he put him in the DILG. Is that the right qualification for such a sensitive position?
The folly of such a setup was shown in the Aug. 23 fiasco. Sad to say, I don’t think Aquino has realized the problem with his kind of management.
“Is that the right qualification for such a sensitive position?”
Ellen, if he could shoot straight, then that’s fine… but events showed that he couldn’t even shoot. So what use is he at all? 🙂
Ellen,
Did Aquino issue an official/formal statement absolving Robredo?
I don’t see wisdom in this setup. Not only do we have 3 secretaries handling communications. Apparently there are two secretaries for DILG, too. One is titular and the other is “understood”. The wise thing is to have one undersecretary for the Interior, and another for Local Government reporting to a single Dept. Sec.
The “pagbabago” promised is the same old dog with a different flea. Too many debts to pay back. Why, if Robredo isn’t interested in running the Police then why doesn’t Noynoy just dump him instead and appoint Rico Puno to the full rank. He can just retain Robredo (who probably prefers to act as Super Governor) as adviser.
Technically, they are circumventing Pimentel’s Local Government Code and all subsequent amendments. Nowhere is it explicit in the law that a Secretary has the option to be responsible only for certain divisions under his department and parts thereof.
Before cultural affairs and sports were taken out of DECS, they had to enact a law to move the 2 functions to other entities to focus the efforts exclusively on Education, hence the change to DepEd.
Now it has become possible by mere choice (or whims and caprice) of an appointee?
Darn, have these people tried working in the private sector working for conglomerates whose turf boundaries are very distinct and well-defined? Or are they all former employers who can change the rules by themselves? Or is this a mere preview of the tearjerking telenovela of incompetence and continuing comedy of errors for the next 6 years to come?
No official/formal statement but he confirmed Robredo’s statement that it was Puno who is in charge of police matters.
He also said that it was Puno he tasked to coordinate with the Manila police that tragic day of Aug. 23.
Here’s Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma defending his fellow Samar groupie:
From ABS-CBN:
Rico Puno qualified to handle peace and order – Palace
if Pnoy doesn’t want a sacred cow’s head to roll on maybe he could now consider the “hands-off” power of DILG over the PNP
Or is this a mere preview of the tearjerking telenovela of incompetence and continuing comedy of errors for the next 6 years to come? – Tongue
Looks like it, Tongue. I doubt if they learned their lessons from the tragedy.
Puno was president of Far East Ballistics Corporation from 1992 to 1995, where “he implemented polices for improvement and development in the production of ammunition.”
Wow, being an executive of a bullet factory for 3 years qualifies people to be No. 2 in DILG? I smell fish. As for the legislative adviser thingy, my bull-o-meter reads full-scale.
Yan ang bago. Yan na ba ANG “pagbabago”?
We are getting all sorts of statements criticizing or defending officials in connection with the Aug. 23 hostage crisis. It’s important that we take note from where the speaker is coming from.
Like Sen. Francis Escudero saying that Robredo will have a difficult time int he Commission of Appointments. Escudero is with the Samar group, the Noy-Bis.
Robredo is LP, with the Balay group , the Noy-Mars.
Coloma is with the Samar group. Lacierda is with Balay.
“Robredo co-chairs the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima probing the Manila hostage fiasco that resulted in the killing of eight Hong Kong nationals and the hostage taker.
Other members of the IIRC are Teresita Ang See, representing the Filipino Chinese community; “
IIRC is power-packed with persons of Integrity, Competence and Courage. Teresita Ang See is also a very honest, smart, courageous and well respected leader in the chinese community. She is also known and respected by the Chinese gov’t. This shows gov’t determination and sincerity in addressing this incident.
Leila De Lima might as well be the chairperson of Truth Commission, with Jesse Robredo as vice chair, while Davide , Tessie Ang See and one more could be members of the commission.
Those in favor of genuine reforms and good government will support DILG Sec Jesse Robredo.
Those in favor of genuine reforms and good government will support DILG Sec Jesse Robredo.
The premise does not support the conclusion. A sweeping generalization not necessarily true.
Wala na bang maibalita na iba ang mga media pipol natin? Yong nangyari sa Maryland wala na sa CNN. Yong nangyari sa atin noong isang buwan … hanggang ngayon nasa front page pa ng mga pahayagan. Pinapiye-piyestahan pa ng ating mga pahayagan …. o mas bagay yata ay tabloid na lang.
Ngayon naman pinag-aaway-away na ang mga alagad ni Noynoy. Ayos … galing talaga ng mga nagbabalita.
Hindi na talaga aasenso ang ating Bayan …. kahit sino pa ang ating Pangulo …. walang pagkaka-isa.
#2 ADB :”Is that the right qualification for such a sensitive position?”
Ellen, if he could shoot straight, then that’s fine… but events showed that he couldn’t even shoot. So what use is he at all? ”
i agree with you ADB, i wonder why there are so many Punos muddling nations affairs for so long and until now. Time to cut the TREE.
Ngayon naman pinag-aaway-away na ang mga alagad ni Noynoy. Ayos … galing talaga ng mga nagbabalita.- Tedanz
Tedanz, hindi ang media ang nagpapa-away sa mga alagad ni Noynoy. Nire-report lang namin ang nangyayari. Bakit ayaw mong maniniwala na nagaaway-away sila?
Kung gusto mong ipikit ang iyong mga mata sa tototong nangyayari dahil masakit tingnan, karapatan mo yun.
pero ang trabaho namin sa media ay ipa-alam sa taumbayan ang totoong nangyayari dahil ang katotohanan ang magbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa kanila.
Kung maganda ang kanilang ginagawa, at walang faction, faction, hindi sila nagsisiraan sa isa’t isa , di yan ang ire-report ng media.
Gusto mo ba magbalita ang media ng hindi totoo?
Kung ako si Robredo, magre-resign ako. He is better off alone, without a boss.
Kaya wala ng balita sa CNN ang tungkol sa hostage taking sa Discovery Channel bldg. dahil tapos na ang kwento. Pinakita ng mga pulis doon kung ano ang dapat gagawin sa sitwasyon ng isang hostage taking. Matagumpay ang mga alagad ng bats doon at patay ang kontrabida. Wala ng maaidagdag pa.
Ang nangyari naman sa Luneta, nangomote ang ating mga pulis at walong civilian na tiga HK ang namatay. DI PA TAPOS ANG KWENTO dahil marami pang mga tanong ang dapat sagutin kaya nga may imbestigasyon pa. Kaya rin marahil di mamatay-matay ang kwento sa nangyari sa Luneta ay dahil iba-iabng kwento ang lumalabas galing din sa ating mga opisyales. kung baga sa novela ay “the plot thickens”, meron pang pwedeng mangyari sa imbestigasyon. 😛
cant grab sand into your hands without seeing spilled Noy needs to trim position in his admin and this is the good time to show leadership for the good of the people regardless of parties affiliation.
#15 pero ang trabaho namin sa media ay ipa-alam sa taumbayan ang totoong nangyayari dahil ang katotohanan ang magbibigay ng kapangyarihan sa kanila.
Affirmative! only the truth will set us free!
at the the back of his mind shall the president still thinks he picked a better choice for DILG boss rather than VP Binay?
Robredo to P-Noy: “Thanks for clarification”;
Baligtad na yata ang mundo sa Malakanyang.
Panahon ni Gloria ang mga tauhan nito ang nagkakanda-utal, nagpapakamatay at nagkakamali-mali sa pagtatanggol sa kaniya at wala kang marinig na boses niya,
Ngayon si Noynoy ang natutuliro kung paano niya maabswelto ang mga tao niya.
If he thinks that it’s his style of leadership, it only shows how shallow is his understanding of the office of pres by acting as apologist for the boo boos of his aides. He seems to love the role of the always dependable mother hen who’s always there to protect and defend her chicks.
(6)
Rolando already had two strikes: (a) the Ombudsman’s unacceptable offer and (b) Orlando’s lies.
Smart guys and gals blame media for the so-called agitating video footages of the “manhandled” Gregorio, the Strike 3 – and Rolando was out…to kill.
Little did they know that the media struck another one, the final one…the Strike 4:
This is when two media personalities posed as “negotiators” which led Rolando to believe that he’s still in control and he can easily get what he wanted.
The reason for the rage that triggered the killings was actually the demands…
the commands of the-man-with-the-gun…
that were not INSTANTLY met!
(The last quote was copy-pasted from Ding Gagelonia’s blog atmidfielddotcom.)
Tama ka Toungue, maraming kailangang pagbigyan ni Pnoy dahil sa sinuportahan siya ng mga ito. Nasaan ang pagbabago? Same same pa rin. Padri padrino. When will we ever learn. When he took two secretaries for Communications, nagtaka ako. Now it looks like dalawa din ang secretaries ng DILG. The sad part is, these heads are at odds with each other. Yan ang problema. Kawawa talaga ang Pilipinas. If Pnoy is not strong enough to put his foot down and LEAD, lagot na naman tayo!
Lacierda also claimed he is in the dark about the garbled coordination between Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo and DILG Undersecretary for Peace and Order Rico Escalona Puno who has been implicated by Aquino as “partly” responsible for the tragic conclusion of the hostage crisis.
The issue involved a memorandum order that was supposedly executed by Robredo prior to the incident with respect to Aquino’s directive on transferring the DILG’s jurisdiction over the police forces at Puno’s helm.
The memo was, however, retracted later, which brought about the confusion in which Malacañang claimed it had no clue at all of such memorandum.
“I’m not aware of that. What we were aware of is that, as stated by the President, since Secretary Robredo is an expert in governance, the local government part of DILG was given to Secretary Jesse Robredo. The police part was given to Usec. Rico Puno—he being the Usec for public order. There was no such memo to my memory,” Lacierda said.
“I do not recall that there was an issuance. Secretary Robredo also did not say anything about that to me. With respect to responsibility, it was there. There was a crisis committee, there were ground commanders there—they were the ones who were handling the minute-by-minute negotiations there,” he added.
http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100902hed1.html
xxxxxxx
There was no memo about the division of responsibilities between these two people, Robredo and Puno
So, mag re rely lang ang tao sa sinabi ni Noynoy na walang man lang witness o recorded video o memo na nagpapatunay na yon talaga ang arrangement nila. E kung ganoon lang e madaling makalusot si Noynoy sa mga kasinungalingan nya.
Dapat imbestigahan yang si Noynoy ni De Lima, yan ang utos ko, ako ang boss nya….hahahhaaaa
Let’s wait this time, with all our senses, if guys and gals from media blame their own “kabaro.”
in the Maryland hostage taking, the police ALONE solves the crisis, wala namang pulitiko doon, maski councilor wala, bakit dito lahat sinisisi? dahil ba mabait ang presidente ngayon? bakit noong panahon ni gma, bakit pipi at bulag si Lagman, zubiri, horny at iba pang maingay ngayon?
Binabasa ko uli si Nicolo Machiavelli, and a few choice morsels come to the fore.
When the King is weak, the barons are strong.
A prince selected among the nobles to be prince has difficulty because the other nobles consider themselves equal to the prince. Such a prince has difficulty in ruling the nobles.
Someone who thinks that wise counsel makes a prince wise is wrong. A prince who is not himself wise will never recognize good advice.
An inexperienced prince will be unable to unite the differing advice from different advisors.
You are evaluated more by what you do in the present than what you [(r) Mother) did in the past.
Thanks for this SnV. I think I will also re-read “The Prince.”
Here’s something nice and heartwarming to see with all the insults and all flying around among some Pinoys and Hongkongers. This is what we should be doing instead of spreading hate. Thanks to this young HK kids’ for reaching out to our OFWs in HK.
Sorry but this link is for FB users only:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/video/video.php?v=467424346214
Can’t understand what they are saying but the posters and their actions says it all.
He seems to love the role of the always dependable mother hen who’s always there to protect and defend her chicks.
———————————–
…I thought all this time that that was one of the job responsibilities of a leader…
Niccolo Machiavelli sums it up this way “the man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous. Therefore if a prince wants to maintain his rule he must learn how not to be virtuous”. “(Machiavelli, 1973, 15)
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…Noynoy will obviously not agree to this…
I believe he is listening to the beats of a different drummer and not Machiavelli…
“In concluding it must be noted that Ethics and Leadership for Good Governance is more a creative art than a science. Its hallmark is existential practice, where one engenders virtue in self, others and society through example and virtuous conduct. Ethics and leadership is like a moral compass, which, over the long term, both personal development and the common good are best served by a moral compass that reads true.”
see more…
http://www.capam.org/_documents/walters.selmon.pdf
Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with splitting the DILG into law enforcement and management of local government, its something new (bago), and could optimize Robredo’s and Puno’s expertise (don’t know anything about Puno though)…now if only they had clearly defined key result areas for this set up, it will work…
…and diffusing the power of the almighty DILG, now thats a class act in itself…now to make it work… 🙂
kahit anong gawin na depinsa ni Pnoy talagang nakita ng buong mundo ang palpak sa pagresulba ng hosetage crisis,kung umasta si jesse robredo parang siga,nakita ko sa tv news nong bisitahin yong bus,kahit bisitahin pa yong bus patay na ang mga 8 hongkong national,ayan gusto puro LP.ayan puro mga palpak ayan ba ang nais natin na pagbabago. ……
Aquino takes responsibility for hostage fiasco
MANILA, Philippines – The buck stops at the highest office of the land.
President Benigno Aquino III has owned up to all the blame in connection with the failed hostage rescue that resulted in the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists and strained relations with China.
“At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that has transpired,” Mr. Aquino told reporters in the course of expressing his thoughts on Senator Francis Escudero’s remarks that Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo would have a tough confirmation process before the Commission on Appointments.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100903-290314/Aquino-takes-responsibility-for-hostage-fiasco
If I remember correctly last year, most in here were praying “kahit na aso, o baboy” ang presidente, huwag lang si Gluerilla…happy na ako…that was the echo chamber then. Now, two months into PNoy presidency, batikos kaagad….give change a chance. At least wala pang obvious multi-million or billion deals na pag kuartahan ng kanyang alipores. Let’s give him a year to slowly and surely replace the remnants of Gluerilla in his administration…pag wala pa ring pagbabago in that area…then it’s fair to sing “it’s a ship without a sail; wandering aimlessly lost” (a caption in one of Anne Murray’s songs. Kumbaya muna, there’s still hope.
P-Noy ‘not to blame’
Ex-President Joseph Estrada Thursday said Mr. Aquino should not be blamed for the hostage crisis.
He told the Inquirer that the ones at fault were Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, head of the local crisis management committee, and police officials led by PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa.
“He should resign,” Estrada said of Verzosa. “The President doesn’t have to be at the scene of a hostage drama. That’s why you have the chain of command. The fact that the PNP chief left at the height of the crisis was unacceptable.”
Escudero said it was “possible” that the hostage drama would affect Mr Aquino’s trust rating.
“But it’s part of what you call governance,” he said. “You encounter challenges that might raise or drag down your numbers.” With a report from Alcuin Papa
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Ewan ko nga ba, parang si Gloria and alipores lang yata ang nanggugulo dito (na kunyari pro erap)…
Si Robredo, dinepensahan ni PNoy. Si Puno, dinepensahan ni Coloma.
Kaya lahat ng sisi bumabagsak kay Ninoy, ang nagdedepensa lang yata e si Erap.
P.Noy takes responsibilty and cleared Robredo. Its good to note that we have an honest and decent President and responsible gov’t official like Robredo in gov’t now, in sharp contrast with the shameless and lying gov’t before under gma.
Jueteng lords, corrupt gov’t officials and other syndicates were afraid of Robredo, that’s why they are taking advantage of the crisis to malign him, but as the saying goes, they can’t put a good man down.
Zubiri, Lagman, Elena Horny were stooges and lapdogs of gma and under the payroll of jueteng queen Lilia Pineda
# 33
I do not advocate that Noy, or anybody use Machiavelli as the guide for their leadership. Machiavelli is too ruthless for me.
When I read books, I take what is useful, and discard the what is not. I subscribe only to the points I posted earlier. So do not use what I do not believe in, as rebuttal for my reference to some points of Machiavelli. Test the points I raised on their merits alone. They cannot be considered invalid because other points of Machiavelli are not valid.
Para kong sinabing mabilis ang kotse, and you say, oo pero pangit ang design ng katawan. We are talking about speed, so nice bodywork is irrelevant, for discussion of speed.
That is where Deng Xiao Ping outdid the much overrated Mao. Deng took what was useful in capitalism to suit his purposes and maintain the one-party rule in China. The economic miracle you see is largely Deng’s handiwork. Mao totally rejected capitalism, and millions died of hunger.
Of course, puwede ka na namang mag-off-tangent and say but Deng caused the Tiananmen Square fiasco.
Again, I am only referring to one point, Deng’s employment of what is useful. That does not mean I advocate the ruthlessness of Deng.
sychitpin, I’m no jueteng lord, corrupt gov’t official, or syndicate member. I’m not maligning him. Have not. Now I will.
I’m saying Robredo has no balls to take the heat off his boss, he’s a lame faggot who can’t resign even just for show to demonstrate to Gloria and her pussy-lickers what delicadeza is all about – then wait for Noynoy to reject it, instead he puts his boss in an ugly predicament. The “honest and decent president” lets him off the hook prematurely, this while no formal report has been submitted.
Bad precedent.
I’ve always been a fan of my Mom’s kababayan. But it’s Robredo’s department that screwed bigtime, making you and me and every Filipino the laughingstock of the world. Nothing can change that. No amount of muddling the issue by emotionally dragging the previous regime into the already ugly picture would alter the very hard facts known even by street urchins in Hong Kong. And elsewhere.
I don’t think he would make it through CA anyway, why waste precious time? As your boss, PNoy, I order you to save face, fire these spineless toads and incompetent amateurs. Pronto!
Tongue-twisted: aside from jueteng lord,etc there were also crooked politicians who feel threatened by a potential 2016 presidentiable in the person of Robredo. You are entitled to your opinion, which I totally disagree. Throwing reckless blame while ignoring the fact that Usec Rico Puno was the one directed by the Pres. to handle hostage crisis indeed is a twisted way of looking at things.
Binay must be feeling rather amused at the moment.
Yes ADB, looks like the lucky star of Binay is working full time
# 42 saxnviolin: you are correct about Deng Xiaoping, he was the principal architect of China’s economic boom and prosperity. Deng was a great leader, who had nothing but the welfare of China in his heart. The Tiananmen square incident was ordered by Deng for the greater good. Its like a wise father(leader) disciplining some very unruly sons, for the welfare of his good son(people) and his family (country).
Phil needs great leaders like Deng Xiaoping, Barack Obama, Lee kwan Yew, Mahathir Mohammed, Chou En Lai, etc….
There is the ruthless way and there is a better way…One that requires each and every one of us to take responsibility, do our jobs well, without the need for too much supervision…to work as a team…
sychitpin, this is not all about politics. Robredo can’t even make it as senator, what 2016 are you talking about. You’re waaay off target.
Reckless blame? After the hostage fiasco, everything they hyped about Robredo for his campaign is now proven wrong.
I squirm in my seat watching the investigation committee. The head of the department who bungled the whole affair is a party to the investigation trying to squeeze blood from HIS SUBORDINATES? Something’s wrong in that picture. How would the police now feel after being subjected to the hot seat by their own boss?
Now compare that to Noynoy who would even sacrifice himself just to save the asses of his undeserving and incompetent underlings!
Juggernaut has asked the question several times: “Will you take a bullet for your president?” But here is this totally limp jellyfish who wouldn’t even shield his boss from shame.