PHILIPPINES: Investigation on the Manila hostage-taking reveals that the SWAT team lacked proper equipment and training for a rapid assault

Record ID: 745394

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Investigation on the Manila hostage-taking reveals that the SWAT team lacked proper equipment and training for a rapid assault
  • Date: 6th September 2010
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (SEPTEMBER 4, 2010) (REUTERS) SWAT POLICEMEN SIGNING STATEMENTS STATEMENT BEING SIGNED SWAT MEMBERS TAKING OATH POLICEMEN SEATED SENIOR POLICE OFFICER 3 AND SWAT LEADER ALFONSO GAMENG BEING QUESTIONED (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) SWAT LEADER, SENIOR POLICE OFFICER 3 ALFONSO GAMENG SAYING: "The reason why it was difficult for us to penetrate was that we could not open the door. When the first team approached it, there was something blocking it. When they tried to pry the door open, a dead body was handcuffed to it, hence they couldn't open it. And also, it was hard to break through the windows, they were very thick." HONG KONG POLICE INVESTIGATORS TAKING NOTES SWAT OFFICERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) LAWYER ROAN LIBARIOS ASKING (off-camera): "Let's say you were to rescue a ship, or a school building, do you conduct simulations?" SWAT MEMBER, POLICE OFFICER 3 EDWIN SIMACON (English): "Seminar, sir." LIBARIOS (Filipino): "You don't have simulations, like for example what happened in the bus?" SIMACON (Filipino): "We did, in our training." LIBARIOS (Filipino): "When?" SIMACON (Filipino): "In 2004, when there was a bus assault in Bicutan (a Manila suburb)." LIBARIOS (Filipino): 2004? Was there any more training after that? SIMACON (Filipino): "No more, sir." SIMACON SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) POLICE OFFICER 3 ABD SWAT TEAM MEMBER EDWIN SIMACON SAYING: "Perhaps the firearms that we were using, maybe assault rifles would have been better." LIBARIOS (Filipino): "Why? SIMACON (Filipino): "Because they're smaller, unlike the A1 rifles that we were using. These A1's date back to the Vietnam war." WIDE VIEW OF SIMACON BEING QUESTIONED (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) POLICE OFFICER 2 FRANCIS UNCO: "Perhaps our vests." NATIONAL BROADCASTING ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT HERMAN BASBANO: (English): Vest? UNCO (Filipino): "Because sir, the vests were were wearing, we weren't really sure if they were bullet-proof." (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATIONAL BROADCASTING ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT HERMAN BASBANO ASKING: "Would you like to have more training?" SWAT LEADER, SENIOR POLICE OFFICER 3 ALFONSO GAMENG SAYING (Filipino): "We add to our training on our own. We train each other, sometimes we shoulder the expenses, just so we can have confidence in ourselves." WIDE VIEW OF INVESTIGATION PANEL POLICEMEN BEING QUESTIONED
  • Embargoed: 21st September 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Reuters ID: LVADYDMWI067HTGUWJMN1AF4HVX1
  • Story Text: An investigating panel on the Manila hostage-taking revealed on Saturday (September 4) the SWAT police's lack of proper equipment and training for dealing with such crises.
    Members of Manila's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team told the panel their ability for a rapid assault was hampered by the lack of gear such as explosive devices that could break through thick barriers.
    It took the SWAT team more than an hour to conduct the raid, and they spent several minutes trying to break through the bus door with a sledgehammer.
    "The reason why it was difficult for us to penetrate was that we could not open the door. When the first team approached it, there was something blocking it. When they tried to pry the door open, a dead body was handcuffed to it, hence they couldn't open it. And also, it was hard to break through the windows, they were very thick," said Senior Police Officer 3 Alfonso Gameng, who led the SWAT team.
    The SWAT also said they did not have formal training with thorough simulations in the last six years.
    "Let's say you were to rescue a ship, or a school building, do you conduct simulations? You don't have simulations, like for example what happened in the bus?" lawyer Roan Libarios asked.
    "We did, in our training...in 2004," SWAT member Edwin Simacon said, They said their formal training in marksmanship was also lacking, and they improved such skills only with self-practice.
    Simacon also said they needed shorter assault rifles to engage in close quarters combat, but instead they went in with long-barreled armalite rifles.
    "Because they're smaller, unlike the A1 rifles that we were using. These A1's date back to the Vietnam war," Simacon said.
    The SWAT team assaulted the bus in the dark and under heavy rain, without wearing gas masks or night-vision goggles. They said they were not even confident of the bullet-proof vests they had on, which carried an expiry date.
    "The vests were were wearing, we weren't really sure if they were bullet-proof," Police officer 2 Francis Unco told the panel, adding the vests did not have steel plates that could protect them from M16 bullets.
    The justice secretary who headed the panel required the SWAT to submit an inventory of the equipment they used and a list of training programs they attended, and a wish list of additional gear.
    "We add to our training on our own. We train each other, sometimes we shoulder the expenses, just so we can have confidence in ourselves," Gameng said.
    They said they practiced their raid about six times before receiving orders to take down the hostage-taker.
    Officials who have criticised the raid lashed at the commanding general, Rodolfo Magtibay, for putting the rescue operations in the hands of the ill-equipped Manila SWAT, when an elite army force and the national police's Special Actions Force were on standby.
    National police chief Jesus Verzosa took responsibility for the botched rescue and announced his decision on Sunday (September 5) to retire early.
    The Philippine National Police has long dealt with a dearth of funding for modernisation and training. The police image also suffers from allegations of corruption and shady dealings. Low salaries do not help in recruiting fresh talent.
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