HK inquest opens into Manila bus hijack deaths
February 15, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HONG Kong opened a coroner's inquest yesterday into eight tourists' deaths last year in a bus hijacking in Manila.
Philippines police stormed the hijacked bus and shot dead a former police officer who had taken a group of Hong Kong tourists hostage in an apparent attempt to win his job back.
Eight hostages were killed in the siege and there was upset over a decision not to pursue criminal charges against the police and security officials who oversaw the botched rescue operation.
Relatives of the victims who attended yesterday's court hearing said they were seeking closure.
"The main thing I want is an accounting, a reason," said Leung Kam-shing, whose younger brother, Ken, a businessman, was among the victims. Ken Leung's wife escaped unhurt, but his two daughters were also killed and his son is still recovering from a serious head injury that initially left him in a coma.
The inquest won't determine criminal or civil liability, overseeing judge Michael Chan said. It is meant to determine the cause of death for the eight Hong Kong victims.
One key question is whether all eight were gunned down by the hostage taker, ex-police officer Rolando Mendoza, or if they were hit by friendly fire.
A Philippines report said that while available evidence suggests Mendoza killed all eight before he was killed himself, this needed to be confirmed by ballistic testing.
The court plans to summon 34 Hong Kong witnesses and 116 from the Philippines - although Chan said he doesn't expect most of the Philippines witnesses to attend. Some have submitted depositions, including Manila police chief Rodolfo Magtibay and other police officers who took part in the negotiations and rescue attempt.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has already declined to attend.
Philippines police stormed the hijacked bus and shot dead a former police officer who had taken a group of Hong Kong tourists hostage in an apparent attempt to win his job back.
Eight hostages were killed in the siege and there was upset over a decision not to pursue criminal charges against the police and security officials who oversaw the botched rescue operation.
Relatives of the victims who attended yesterday's court hearing said they were seeking closure.
"The main thing I want is an accounting, a reason," said Leung Kam-shing, whose younger brother, Ken, a businessman, was among the victims. Ken Leung's wife escaped unhurt, but his two daughters were also killed and his son is still recovering from a serious head injury that initially left him in a coma.
The inquest won't determine criminal or civil liability, overseeing judge Michael Chan said. It is meant to determine the cause of death for the eight Hong Kong victims.
One key question is whether all eight were gunned down by the hostage taker, ex-police officer Rolando Mendoza, or if they were hit by friendly fire.
A Philippines report said that while available evidence suggests Mendoza killed all eight before he was killed himself, this needed to be confirmed by ballistic testing.
The court plans to summon 34 Hong Kong witnesses and 116 from the Philippines - although Chan said he doesn't expect most of the Philippines witnesses to attend. Some have submitted depositions, including Manila police chief Rodolfo Magtibay and other police officers who took part in the negotiations and rescue attempt.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has already declined to attend.
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