The Chinese government on Thursday said that it was “impressed" by the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC)’s probe on the August 23 hostage-taking incident in Manila’s Rizal Park, which left eight Hong Kong tourists after a botched rescue attempt.
Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao said the IIRC put a “tremendous amount of work" in its week-long investigation of what really happened during the hostage crisis. “We are impressed by the professionalism and the sense of responsibility of the investigating team headed by Secretary [Leila] de Lima. It was with a short period of time but tremendous amount of work was put in," Liu said in a press conference on Thursday. This page requires a higher version browser The Chinese ambassador added that his government found that the initial report produced by the IIRC on the hostage-taking tragedy was “comprehensive and responsible." “With a comprehensive, thorough and fair report in place, I think that will bring consolation to the people in China, including Hong Kong," he said. The Chinese ambassador, however, refused to comment further on the report, since President Benigno Aquino III is still reviewing the findings presented in the document. “Malacañang is also doing a review on the report so we’re following with interest the development of this investigation," he said. On August 23, dismissed Police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza hijacked a Hong Thai bus carrying 21 tourists from Hong Kong and four Filipinos. After an 11-hour hostage drama, nine people died—Mendoza and eight Hong Kong tourists. (See: Massacre in nation's heart: Timeline of Manila bus siege) Days after the tragedy, Malacañang immediately formed the IIRC to look into the incident. The IIRC, after a week-long inquiry into the hostage-taking, recommended in a report the filing of charges against 13 government and police officials “liable" for the bloody outcome of the incident. (See: Ombudsman, Puno liable for hostage tragedy - IIRC) The Philippine government sent a copy of the IIRC report to Chinese authorities immediately after it was released, supposedly as an act of diplomatic courtesy.—Andreo C. Calonzo/JV
