Alleged corruption in the police

We are not taking this defensively or sitting down. The President has acknowledged the weaknesses of the police force and has ordered the Chief to do something about it or face the consequences. We are not denying that corruption may have been involved. We are not making any excuses and will get into the root of the matter. We have an independent commission coming up to strengthen the investigation. We are interested in punishing the guilty as well as in the long-term measures leading to permanent solutions.

Bush visit

Dr. Frank Jenista of the US Embassy called to clarify that the US Ambassador is in regular touch with Washington, both before and after the al-Ghozi incident, and that there is not the slightest hint that the Bush would not push through.

We also find no reason for canceling the Bush visit because of this incident. It is a freak event and we are hot on the heels of al-Ghozi and his companions. They will not be given time to rest and to plan or to do their mischief.

TACLOBAN, Leyte – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today threatened to conduct a top-to-bottom revamp of the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership for corruption which she said was probably behind the escape of high-profile detainees at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

Acknowledging that corruption in the PNP "is already eating into the security of our nation," the President called on the entire leadership PNP to shape up or ship out.

"I hold the PNP Chief and the entire leadership of the PNP accountable for resolving the problem of police corruption once and for all," the President said during her visit to the Department of Foreign Affairs office here at the Provincial Capitol Compound.

If no results are forthcoming, the President said, "I will not hesitate to undertake a top-to-bottom revamp."

"We will get into the root of this case no matter who gets hurt," she assured the nation.

The President said it is highly probable that the problem of corruption is related to the escape of no less than five prominent detainees from the headquarters of the PNP over the past year.

Among those who escaped recently were international terrorist Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, an Indonesian bomb expert, and suspected Abu Sayyaf members Abdulmukim Ong Edris and Omar Opik Lasal alias Meram Abante.

In June last year, Faisal Marohombsar, the leader of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang, and two of his followers, also escaped from Camp Crame.

The President said the people are tired of the worn-out explanations that corruption within the police organization is an endemic or perennial issue or that only a few eggs are involved.

Malacaņang today said that the fact-finding body created by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to look into the circumstances behind the escape of convicted Indonesian terrorist Fathur Roman al-Ghozi and two other Abu Sayyaf bandits will have far-reaching effects on the overall security problem at the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In his regular press briefing this afternoon, Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said that the presidential commission is tasked not only to pinpoint responsibility for the escape up to the highest level but also to make recommendations on the long-term solution to the security gap at the PNP.

Bunye said that the investigation to be undertaken by the fact-finding commission would go hand in hand with the ongoing investigation ordered by PNP chief, Director General Hermogenes Ebdane, on the incident.

"I believe the two investigations will go side by side, in a parallel fashion," Bunye said.

Earlier in a formal statement, the President said that she will hold the PNP leadership responsible for resolving the problem of police corruption once and for all "because it is already eating into the security of the nation."

In her statement, the President acknowledged that there is a serious problem of corruption in the police organization and that this problem could be related to the escape of no less than five detainees from Camp Crame over the past year.

She said that she will not hesitate to undertake a top-to-bottom revamp of the PNP if no results are forthcoming.

The President said that although the independent body will deal with the specific matter of the Al-Ghozie escape and the culpabilities involved, it will also look into long-term preventive measures.

"We will look into the root of this case no matter who gets hurt," the President said.

Bunye explained that the fact that the President mentioned about the need to address the issue of police corruption means that something really has to be done.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye today indicated that United States President George W. Bush might push through with his planned state visit to the Philippines this October, after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

In his regular press briefing, Bunye said "there is not the slightest indication that there had been a change in the plan."

He said the US Embassy in Manila has been in constant touch with Malacanang and with Washington.

"Dr. Frank Jenista called us to clarify that the US Ambassador is in constant touch with Washington," both before and after the escape of Indonesian terrorist Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi and two others from their Camp Crame cell, he said.

"The fact that they took the initiative to call us indicates that they really would like to clarify the situation," he added.