In the case of Verzosa, Mr Aquino said that the PNP chief was already retired and that there was no rule that would merit an administrative case against him.

The Palace report said that Verzosa was justified in leaving the scene to attend a seminar, saying the crisis management manual said that "a crisis should be handled at the lowest level."

"Furthermore, the hostage-taking incident was determined as a local incident. The order to use the SAF instead of the SWAT was given to Magtibay and not to Verzosa," it said.

As for Moreno, the President said his role in the crisis management was not clear and that his participation was limited to being a liaison between the negotiators and the Ombudsman.