MANILA -- President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III will not change his decision on the hostage report for the purpose of satisfying Chinese and Hong Kong governments.
“I think that is a very flimsy reason to amend the courses of action we have decided upon. This is not whimsical,” Aquino said in a press conference in Malacanang Thursday.
The President noted that his recommendations were based on review of pertinent laws and wisdom of those who participated in the study of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) report.
Aquino recommended filing administrative charges against seven government officials. Only the brother of hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza was recommended to be charged for criminal liability. Top officials like Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno were spared from any culpability.
The Chinese and Hong Kong governments expressed dissatisfaction on the President’s decision, which perceived to be watered down compared to the IIRC recommendation.
“We believe this (his recommendation) is the proper course of action, and these will be the ones that will prosper,” Aquino maintained. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)