Sunday, August 21, 2011
MALACAÑANG on Sunday said Philippine authorities have undertaken major institutional reforms to strengthen the capability of the police and avoid a repeat of the bungled hostage crisis at the Quirino Grandstand in August 2010.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa 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 incident on August 23 last year.
“We have undertaken reforms that focus on improving the capability of the PNP (Philippine National Police) to respond to crisis situations. We recently activated the SAF (Special Action Force), whose personnel are all graduates of specialized training courses,” Ochoa said.
Several survivors of the Manila hostage crisis are expected to arrive in the country Sunday to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the hostage crisis.
Mass will also be held to mark the crisis that strained the Philippine’s relations with the People’s Republic of China.
Eight tourists from Hong Kong were killed when dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza took hostage a bus full of tourists at the Quirino grandstand near the Luneta Park.
After hours of standoff, other passengers of the bus were saved while Mendoza was killed.
President Benigno Aquino III earlier denied the appeal of the survivors to meet with him.
The survivors were demanding for compensation and apology from the Philippine government. They also criticized the government for supposedly not doing anything to reform the country’s security system.
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.
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.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte supported the statement of Ochoa saying that the government has already taken steps to improve the security capabilities.
“Noon pong nakaraang linggo, naipakita po ‘yung training, ‘yung simulation po ng special action forces, at makikita naman po natin na talagang nagkaroon naman po ng improvement and that we are doing what we can to move on from the incident,” she said.
She added that police forces are also installed in tourism areas to secure the safety of tourists.
Malacañang has yet to tell if President Aquino has a schedule related to the hostage crisis commemoration on Tuesday.
For the part of the police, PNP spokesperson Agrimero Cruz earlier said that the PNP has learned its lesson.
He said the PNP upgraded its equipment, training and enhanced its capabilities.
He also said that about 245 Swat personnel from various regions have undergone refresher training courses to improve their skills.
The PNP also conducted dialogues with various media organizations for the handling of coverage of crisis situations, he added. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/08/21/government-improves-crisis-situation-management-174463

Frequently visited resort hotel in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone shares news, articles, suggestions and ideas on matters that might enhance your visit to Subic and Clark Pampanga for vacation and travel, as well as to organize, plan or attend a corporate or social event near Manila.

The best hotels outside Manila in Pampanga and Subic are listed here including a beach resort which is a semi-private establishment located in the central business district near shopping, business, entertainment, airport and other conveniences of Philippines Clark Freeport Zone. This 13 hectare lake beach resort near Manila Philippines is highly recommended for family tourists with children or couples and individuals hoping to relax and enjoy peace and quiet in a laidback American suburban lifestyle.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasion

You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

Adding to the charm and attractiveness of the resorts and hotels in Clark Philippines are certain unique factors including safety, a keen sense of security and privacy that the main zone of Clark Freeport Zone offers. Angeles Philippines, Subic or Manila cannot offer the same sense of security like Clark Philippines.

Pampanga is an important province of the Philippines slated to be the next business and tourism center of the country. Already international traffic prefers the Clark International Airport and tourists find Clark Freeport Zone easier to get around than Manila. Safety, low crime rate, no traffic and low pollution levels all contribute to making Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone a preferred destination for local and international tourists.

For information as well as assistance with reservations in hotels and resorts in Pampanga, Clark Philippines, click here to contact HotelClarkPhilippines now

Or call us at

Hotel Clark Philippines
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177 ask for Pedro or Rechel

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

Email: Info@ClarkPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

YATS Leisure Philippines is a HK-based developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine outlets www.YatsLeisure.com

To inquire with the beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit
http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

For assistance with wedding venues, organizing and planning a wedding reception or to find wedding services and consultants, log on to
www.philippinesweddingvenue.com

To inquire with the highly recommended beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com

For more information about Clark, Pampanga, Philippines log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers and gourmands looking for good place to eat, fine dining restaurants and family resto bar may want to log on to www.YatsRestaurant.com

In the Freeport zone of Clark, there is a large wine shop that sells excellent vintage wine called Clark Wine Center which offers over 2700 selections of fine wine ranging from p500 to p500,000 a bottle and up. Log on to www. ClarkWineCenter.com for more information.

Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.