Azurin apologizes over 'Muslim' comments made by cops during De Lima hostage-taking

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Tuesday apologized over the "Muslim" comments made by policemen during Sunday's hostage-taking incident at the PNP Custodial Center.

Interviewed on ANC, Azurin addressed the apology to Senator Robin Padilla who earlier expressed his disappointment that policemen referred to hostage-takers as "Muslims" during the incident.

“We would like to apologize po sa ating good Senator na well-noted po ang kanyang comment as far as 'yung nangyari po… Thank you for reminding us,” Azurin said.

(We would like to apologize to our good Senator, and his comments regarding what happened are well-noted.)

Although the incident could be due to "adrenaline rush," Azurin said describing suspects during operations sometimes could not be avoided.

"Kung minsan nagre-responde ka, you either identify or describe po— sino ba 'yung suspect? Ilocano. Sino 'yung ano? Bicolano — para malaman po agad ng mga kapulisan kung sino po ba yung hinahanap natin, that sometimes those are part of the descriptions we attribute po sa criminals, suspects na hinahanap natin,” he said.

(Sometimes when you are responding to a situation, you either identify or describe — Who is the suspect? Ilocano. Bicolano — so the police will immediately know who they are looking for. Sometimes those are part of the descriptions we attribute to criminals or suspects we are looking for.)

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Padilla accepted Azurin's apology.

"I hope this will be an important first step to end discrimination against people based on their faith.

"My wish is that our heroic policemen remove from their vocabulary the word 'Muslim' in referring to those who are linked to crime or terrorism. Again, there is no connection between one's faith and his/her wrongdoing," Padilla said.

He likewise reiterated his support to the policemen in fulfilling their pledge to "serve and protect."

During a hearing by the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs on Monday, Padilla said he noticed in a video that some policemen repeatedly referred to the hostage-takers as Muslims.

"Sa tuwing may kidnapper, o holdaper, o pumatay ng tao, hindi naman po natin sinasabing Kristiyano ang may sala o gumawa ng krimen. Ngunit kung nagkataon na Muslim, ito po ang palagiang binibigkas hanggang sa mga ulat sa publiko," he said.

(Every time there was a kidnapper, robber, or murderer, we never say that the suspect was a Christian. But, when the suspect happened to be a Muslim, it is always mentioned even in reports to the public.)

“Kung hindi po ito isang anyo ng diskriminasyon, hindi ko na po alam kung ano pa ang itatawag dito [If this is not a form of discrimination, I don't know what it is]," he added.

Padilla called on Azurin to launch an education program for policemen so they would refrain from identifying the suspects based on their religion.

On Sunday, three detainees — Arnel Cabintoy, Idang Susukan, and Feliciano Sulayao Jr. — tried to escape from the PNP Custodial Center and stabbed Police Corporal Roger Agustin, who was serving their food.

Cabintoy and Susukan were shot dead by a police officer while Sulayao was able to run and take former Senator Leila de Lima —  detained in connection with drug-related charges — hostage.

Headquarters Support Service Director Police Colonel Mark Pespes was able to neutralize Sulayao during a negotiation. —KBK/RSJ, GMA News