Aquino not keen on sending 116 witnesses to HK hostage probe

Like the Justice Secretary, President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III is not keen on sending all 116 witnesses in the August 23 Manila hostage crisis to Hong Kong for a public inquiry on the incident. In an ambush interview on Thursday, Aquino said it would be better for all parties concerned if the witnesses were just interviewed in the Philippines instead of sending them all to Hong Kong. "I don’t know if there’s really a need to have that many. Saka siyempre, kung pupuwede dito mainterview ng inquest proceedings, I think it would be better for all parties concerned," he said. (If it's possible for them to be interviewed here for the inquest proceedings, I think it would be better for all parties concerned.) The Hong Kong Coroner’s Court invited at least 116 Filipino witnesses to shed light on the August 23 hostage incident where eight tourists from Hong Kong were killed. The responding policemen also ultimately killed the hostage taker, dismissed policeman Rolando Mendoza who was demanding his reinstatement into service. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima previously said the Philippines will ask Hong Kong to limit the number of the witnesses “to those that may only be essential" in determining the hostages' cause of death. De Lima said she had already sent Aquino a memo advising him to have Hong Kong clarify the scope of its inquest proceedings so that the Philippines would know if the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) is applicable. Under the MLAT, De Lima said the Philippines cannot require the witnesses to go to Hong Kong and can only assist in sending them Hong Kong’s summons. The treaty also protects Filipinos from being prosecuted in a foreign country. While he has yet to read De Lima's memo, Aquino said he already discussed his concerns with the Justice Secretary, particularly on the issues of sovereignty and the protection of Filipinos. The Hong Kong government earlier expressed its dismay with Aquino's decision not to follow all of the recommendations of the De Lima-led Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC). The IIRC recommended sanctions against more than 10 individuals for the supposed mishandling of the hostage incident. However, Aquino ordered the filing of administrative charges only against four police officials, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, and Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzales III. Only the hostage-taker's brother, SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, was slapped with criminal charges of illegal possession of firearms and serious illegal detention. Aquino decided not to pursue charges against his longtime friend Interior Secretary Rico Puno, retired Philippine National Police Jesus Verzosa, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, broadcasters Michael Rogas and Erwin Tulfo, and broadcast stations ABS-CBN, GMA, and TV 5. The hostage crisis, which occurred a little less than two months after Aquino stepped into office, is perceived to be one of the biggest challenges faced by the Aquino administration. Both the local and international community criticized the Aquino administration for its supposedly poor response to the bus siege. – VVP, GMANews.TV