Hostage crisis handled well, but media not briefed on role – ex-police sniper

While the Greenhills hostage-taking incident was generally handled well by the crisis management team, authorities should have briefed the media about their role in the negotiations, a former sharpshooter turned judge said on Tuesday.

Manila Regional Trial Court Judge Jaime Santiago, who made headlines in the '90s as a sharpshooter with the Manila Police District, said the media should have been briefed on their part in the incident as hostage-taker Alchie Paray demanded to talk with journalists.

“All participants sa negotiation, dapat well-briefed para’t kung ano’t ano man ang mangyari, ‘yung mga nagpa-participate like ‘yung mga media, ay alam nila ‘yung dapat gagawin, ‘yung tamang agwat,” he said in a 24 Oras report by Raffy Tima.

Prior to releasing dozens of hostages after an almost 11-hour ordeal in San Juan City on Monday, Paray addressed the media to air his grievances against the security firm that laid him off. 

Santiago said allowing the hostage-taker to speak to the media in public was the right decision.

“Magandang control para sa pulis ‘yung lumabas siya in the open na, at anytime, maling move niya, I’m sure merong mga sniper na nakahanda,” he explained.

Police earlier confirmed that snipers were at the ready during Paray’s press conference. 

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora and Philippine National Police chief Police (PNP) General Archie Gamboa likewise explained that the conference was “tactical” and part of the negotiations.  

However, Santiago said the police could have done a better job at controlling the citizens outside the building who were live-streaming the hostage-taking incident as it unfolded.

“Siguro in situations like this, the police should be ready with their jammer para ma-stop agad ang any communication, any live viewing sa social media… Mahirap nang makontrol ‘yan,” he said.

Gamboa said they would look into the points for improvement that were raised following the hostage crisis.

“These are protocols which the PNP should have a very closer look kasi ‘di ba we were criticized in confiscating a cellphone of a person by a general, so this time we want to be very careful and we will sit down and evaluate what happened there,” he said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News