No need for President Noynoy to attend hostage investigation
An ally of President Aquino has said that the president should not appear during the probe on the Manila Hostage crisis.
Sen. Francis Escudero said it would be "OA (over-acting)" for the body investigating the hostage-taking incident to summon the President.
"I don’t think the subordinate can call on the superior given the fact that the subordinate is only the alter-ego of the President," Escudero said.
"Hindi naman siguro dapat pa na hilahin ang Pangulo sa isyung ito." (I don’t think the President should be dragged into this issue.)
It’s no secret that President Aquino has been bombarded with criticism for the botched response to the hostage crisis, which according to many, it is the biggest test of his administration so far.
Critics believe he should have been hands-on in responding to the crisis.
On Tuesday, De Lima said that even though there is no plan yet to ask the President to be present to the hearings, it is something they cannot rule out.
Escudero said President Aquino’s Cabinet secretaries should answer in his behalf.
"Masyado nang pinapababa ng ganyang uri ng pagpapatawag hindi lang ang Pangulo at ang katauhan niya kundi ang opisinang kinakatawan niya," he said.
(That kind of summons would only denigrate not just the President but the office that he represents.)
Meanwhile, Escudero wants Robredo to hold back himself from the investigation since the agency he leads is among those being probed.
"Para sa akin ito ay dapat at marapat na pangunahan na lamang ng DOJ (Department of Justice) at NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) at merong mga observer mula sa Hong Kong authorities at wala ng iba upang matiyak na magiging parehas at pantay ang imbestigasyong isinasagawa," he said.
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