Two days after the tragic hostage taking situation at the Quirino Grandstand, President Noynoy Aquino III announced that he has appointed Secretary Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning, to coordinate with various media organizations and set up parameters on how to cover hostage situations in the future.
ABS-CBN has issued a statement indicating its willingness to implement a news blackout when it comes to volatile scenarios such as a hostage-taking situation. (CLICK HERE to read related story)
In a statement issued today, GMA-7 has also expressed its willingness to meet with authorities in order to improve the procedures to be followed when faced with similar situations in the future.
Here is the full statement of GMA-7 regarding the August 23 hostage situation:
"Immediately after our live coverage of the hostage taking and its bloody outcome last Monday, we in GMA News reviewed how we covered the situation.
"We are now taking a second look at our existing policies and processes to determine how these can be improved and how we can fill up what is lacking.
"At the end of this review, we will come up with a revised set of rules to be implemented during situations that pose risks to our people and the public.
"We are also open to dialogue with authorities on how we could work together in situations like this in the interest of the safety of the public, especially the hostages."