De Lima: Hostage probe report will not be altered

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila de Lima assured that the 83-page on the August 23 hostage-taking incident will not be altered even if the Chinese goverment will disagree with it.

 De Lima said this as she defended the delay in the release of the report of the Incident Investigation Review Committee, which she headed, to allow the Chinese government to see the report first. "On the part of the IIRC, we will stand by our report including our recommendation. There will be no alteration either before or after it was presented to the Chinese and Hong Kong government," she told the House appropriation committee during the hearing on the DOJ's proposed 2011 budget on Monday. De Lima supported the decision to provide the Chinese government a copy of the report "to avoid further irritants or discomfort between the two countries."

 "I have no strong objection. I would tend to support the President that we present it to Hong Kong and Chinese authorities," she said. 

She also said that there was no conscious effort to delay the release the report but it was done "out of courtesy".

 "The President has every intention to make public the report," De Lima said.

 She believed the report would be released on Monday and that she is only waiting for the go signal from President Aquino. "There will be no substantial gap between the release of the report to the Chinese government and to the Filipino people. I'm just waiting for the go signal from the President," De Lima said.

 Anticipating an order from the President to release the report., De Lima already asked the IIRC support staff to prepare an executive summary. De Lima refused to provide even little details on the report, and even risked being cited in contempt, for not disclosing the details to the congressmen. Meanwhile, Manila police are on pins and needles awaiting the results of an inter-agency body's findings on the Aug. 23 hostage crisis. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported that the Manila Police District's officers and members are anxious to learn who are to be deemed liable and face charges for the tragedy. Acting MPD head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla also said they are ready to accept and implement whatever sanction or reform will be recommended. During the Aug. 23 hostage drama, the MPD was headed by Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, who also acted as ground commander at the time. Magtibay has since taken a leave of absence from the MPD. – VVP/RSJ, GMANews.TV