Ochoa: Major reforms undertaken to improve crisis situation management
Philippine authorities have undertaken major institutional reforms toward strengthening the capability of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to effectively manage hostage situations in order to avoid a repeat of the Quirino Grandstand incident one year ago.
Philippine authorities have undertaken major institutional reforms toward strengthening the capability of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to effectively manage hostage situations in order to avoid a repeat of the Quirino Grandstand incident one year ago.
Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said the reforms were part of the recommendations of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), which looked into the handling of the rescue operation during the hostage taking.
According to Ochoa, the government has formed the Crisis Action Force (CAF) in the aftermath of the hostage incident and has invested P169.9 million to provide the special police unit with new weapons, equipment and vehicles to help it deal with similar situations in the future.
“We have undertaken reforms that focus on improving the capability of the PNP to respond to crisis situations. We recently activated the CAF, whose personnel are all graduates of specialized training courses,” Ochoa said.He said all personnel of the PNP’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) had received additional training courses, while a pool of negotiators that had undergone training here and overseas on hostage situation and crisis management has already been identified.
The PNP, according to Ochoa, has also produced three handbooks on hostage crisis management – the Hostage Negotiation Handbook, PNP Critical Incident Management Action Flow Chart and Checklist Handbook, and PNP-National Operations Center Incident Management and Monitoring Handbook – to guide all members of the police force.
Other recommendations of the IIRC which have been addressed are the imposition of penalties and the filing of appropriate charges against officials it found liable for mishandling the hostage-taking incident.
Ochoa said the Office of the President had referred the cases of these officials to the appropriate agencies like the National Police Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Press Statement: On the Death Anniversary of Senator "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.
We honor the memory of Sen. Ninoy Aquino by doing our best to live up to the ideals and values that he exhibited when he fought for the restoration of democracy, like selflessness and love of country.Sen. Ninoy taught us to put our country first, and we hope that everyone will commemorate his sacrifice by following his example; not just on his death anniversary, but every day.
Press Statement: On the Death Anniversary of Senator "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr.
We honor the memory of Sen. Ninoy Aquino by doing our best to live up to the ideals and values that he exhibited when he fought for the restoration of democracy, like selflessness and love of country.Sen. Ninoy taught us to put our country first, and we hope that everyone will commemorate his sacrifice by following his example; not just on his death anniversary, but every day.
