Manila execs to skip HK probe on hostage tragedy

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno are not keen on attending the Hong Kong government's investigation on the Aug. 23 Manila hostage tragedy. At a news briefing Monday, Lim said there is no need to attend the proceedings of the Hong Kong Coroner's Court in February since the Philippines has already investigated the hostage tragedy through the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC). "Is that not an infringement of our sovereignty or an encroachment and mockery of the authority and official functions of our government?" asked Lim. Moreno echoed Lim’s statement. "There is no reason for us to go to Hong Kong. Whatever Hong Kong needs to know from us, we have already stated during the inquiries conducted by the [IIRC], the National Bureau of Investigation and even the Senate," he said. Moreno added that Hong Kong authorities could refer to the affidavits he and Lim issued to Philippine investigators. Lim and Moreno were among the over 100 resource persons from the Philippines invited by Hong Kong to shed light on the hostage tragedy. On Aug. 23, 2010, dismissed policeman Rolando Mendoza held hostage a busload of tourists from Hong Kong. The hostage drama ended after an 11-hour standoff with Mendoza going on a shooting rampage, killing eight of his hostages. Mendoza was later killed during the police shootout. Lim, who acted as the local crisis management committee head, was criticized for his strategy of tiring out the hostage-taker. He was also criticized for ordering the arrest of Mendoza's brother, SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, which reportedly drove the hostage-taker into a shooting rampage. The IIRC had recommended the initiation of criminal and administrative proceedings against Lim, Moreno, and at least 10 others, but the report was later modified by President Benigno Aquino III’s legal team. The modified report recommended the initiation of administrative proceedings against Lim "for misconduct in office and simple neglect," which is punishable under Section 60 of the Local Government Code. His case was referred to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for appropriate proceedings. Moreno and other high-profile personalities like Interior Undersecretary Rico E. Puno and former Philippine National Police chief Jesus Verzosa, on the other hand, were cleared of any wrongdoing. — KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV