Manila officials to hold hearings over siege
The Philippine Department of Justice will launch public hearings tomorrow to question witnesses, victims and law enforcement officers involved in last week's tour bus hijacking in which eight Hong Kong people were killed.
Those attending include tour bus driver Alberto Lubang, journalist Erwin Tulfo, who was the last to speak to Rolando Mendoza before he began shooting the hostages, and the woman who drove Mendoza to Fort Santiago, where he first boarded the bus.
In a sworn affidavit, the woman, identified only as 'Rose', stated that she did not know of Mendoza's plan when she took him to Fort Santiago, Manila-based ABS-CBN News reported.
Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, vice-mayor Isko Moreno, former city police chief Rodolfo Magtibay, hostage negotiator Orlando Yebra, national police chief Jesus Verzosa and Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Rico Puno have also been asked to attend.
Investigators are working quickly to wrap up their inquiry and submit a report to President Benigo Aquino within two to three weeks.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong and Philippine investigators in Manila continued their separate inquiries into the tragedy. Hong Kong police continued their forensic examination of the bus and the crime scene at Quirino Grandstand.
It remains unclear when Philippine investigators will leave for Hong Kong to interview the survivors of the hijacking. Hong Kong police did not respond to requests for information.
Meanwhile, Secretary for Justice Wong Yan-lung has appointed Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Kevin Zervos as coroner's officer along with senior public prosecutor Memi Ng Mee-wah in response to a request from Coroner Michael Chan Pik-kiu, the Department of Justice said yesterday.
Tourism Board chairman James Tien Pei-chun yesterday said the government's travel warning for Hong Kongers to visit the Philippines should not be lifted until a detailed report of the hostage tragedy is completed.
