PNP assures HK forensic experts of 'full assistance'

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reassured Hong Kong forensic experts Monday of their full assistance in their probe of last week’s hostage crisis in Manila. PNP Metro Manila police chief Director Leocadio Santiago Jr. said Monday the PNP’s technicians and experts will be assisting the Hong Kong investigators in their work. “Nandoon ang ating technicians at expert mag-a-assist sa gagawin nilang investigation (Our technicians and experts will assist them in their investigation)," Santiago said in an interview on dzXL radio. He also said the PNP is open to a “joint" investigation with the Hong Kong forensic experts, who will be starting their work on Monday. “Nasa kanila yan ... Kung ano ang kulang nila na meron tayo ipo-provide sa kanila (It is up to them ... Whatever they will lack, we are ready to provide them)," he said. Santiago said they hope to dismiss any notion of a possible whitewash in the investigation of the case. On Monday last week, nine people died in the 11-hour hostage crisis in Manila, including eight Hong Kong tourists and hostage taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza. Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and held hostage 21 Hong Kong tourists and four Filipinos. Last weekend, a Hong Kong forensic team was barred from investigating the bus where the hostage crisis occurred. Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said there was just a miscommunication that was eventually ironed out. Cruz said the Hong Kong team will have “constructive possession" of the bus. “Ang habol namin maipakita lalo sa Hong Kong at international community na lahat na prosesong inasahang ginawa ng kapulisan ay tama ang nangyari. Yan ang habol natin (Our objective now is to show Hong Kong and the international community that all procedures followed by police are proper)," Santiago said. PNP to continue internal probe Meanwhile, Santiago said the PNP will continue its own internal investigation of the incident to identify the remedial steps that should be put in place. He said the internal probe will continue even though the official investigation of the hostage incident has been turned over to the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation. “Ito tuloy-tuloy ang internal investigation namin for purposes ng aming investigation para ma-document lahat na proseso. Tulad ng sinabi ng kapunuan ng PNP, ma-evaluate ang actions taken kung ano ang tama, kulang, mali at ano ang dapat gawin." he said. (Our internal investigation will continue so we can document the procedures involved. As the PNP hierarchy said, we want to evaluate the actions taken and see what were correct, wrong and lacking, and come up with the proper remedial measures.) –VVP, GMANews.TV