A team of Hong Kong investigators and forensic experts got on board Monday (Aug 30) the bus where eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in a hostage taking incident a week ago for spot investigation.
The Hong Kong investigation team, headed by NG Ka-sing, assistant commissioner of police, Crime Wing Headquarters of Hong Kong Police Force, was composed of nine persons, including five policemen, said Wang Ben, police attache of the Chinese embassy to the Philippines.
Hong Kong investigators carried out their own investigation in the bus, that had been stowed at a warehouse in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, in the company of their counterpart in the Philippine.
On the very day of the hijacking incident, Hong Kong sent a number of police to Manila. When its chartered plane with bodies of the victims and survivors left for Hong Kong, two remained in Manila. Several other investigators flew to the Philippines over the past couple of days.
With the help of Chinese embassy, Hong Kong investigators held a joint meeting with Philippine officials from the Department of Justice and the department of Interior and Local Government Monday morning. Then, they went to the bus for spot investigation, Wang said.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) reassured Hong Kong forensic experts Monday of their full assistance in their probe of the hostage incident.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has issued a directive creating a Joint Incident Investigation and Review Committee ( JIIRC), which is to be headed by the Justice Secretary Leila de Lima with Interior Secretay Jesse Robredo and the Communications groups as its members.
At a press conference on Monday, Leila de Lima said, the Philippines discussed certain protocols with the Hong Kong police. They asked for permission to conduct inspection on the bus and subsequently inspection or examination of the firearms and interviews of witnesses.
Reply to their demand, De Lima said, only after Philippine authorities like the Philippine National Police and the National Investigation Bureau have completed their own examination, can Hong kong investigators start their survey.
De Lima also said, "We expect to receive this week the autopsy report, the ballistics examination report, the firearms exam report. We also expect the written statements from the NBI, of the witnesses, officers in command, negotiators ..."
The Philippines will evaluate these reports and determine who will be summoned or invited in the proceedings for clarificatory questioning, she added.
Hong Kong investigators can attend and observe. If they want to ask questions, they can course it through the Philippine investigation committee, she said.
In response to Philippine demand, NG Ka-sing said, it tallies with international convention. Hong Kong investigators will respect prerogative of the Philippines.
A dismissed Philippine police took hostage 25 people, including 21 Hong Kong tourists, inside a tourist bus in Rizal Park in the Philippine capital city of Manila last Monday in a bid to be reinstated in the country's police force. The hostage taker and eight Hong Kong people were killed in the hostage crisis.
