AUTHORITIES IN THE FILIPINO CAPITAL Manila have today begun an inquiry into the failed rescue operation in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed on 23 August.
Leila de Lima, the justice secretary who is heading up the probe, launched the inquiry today with the help of Rico Puno- the country’s undersecretary of the department of interior.
Puno is the highest ranking official to testify so far, but reports from Filipino TV station GMA News during the week said that de Lima would consider inviting President Benigno Aquino III to the committee.
President Aquino had earlier admitted responsibility for the botched rescue operation. “I am responsible for everything that has transpired” stated Aquino in the face of criticism over his handling of the crisis.
The hostage situation began when sacked policeman Roberto Mendoza hijacked a bus full of tourists. Puno admitted to several mistakes during the negotiations, in which crisis management officials decided against deploying snipers an attempt to shoot the hijacker dead.
“I am not capable in handling hostage situations,” Puno admitted. “I am not trained to do that. I do not have the experience to handle hostage negotiations.”
In another facet of the story, a Honk Kong legislator said that the mislabeling of three of the bodies of the eight dead Hong Kong tourists was a “small matter” and that the investigation was of more importance to them.
“We in Hong Kong are demanding an independent, fair and open investigation, and they must publish the report to give a full account to the international community” Hong Kong Legislative Council memeber Emily Lau told CBN News.
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