Manila begins hostage crisis probe
September 3, 2010
Authorities in the Philippines have begun a three-day inquiry into a botched hostage rescue operation in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in the capital, Manila. Leila de Lima, the Philippine justice secretary who is heading the probe, launched the proceedings on Friday, summoning Rico Puno, the country’s undersecretary of the department of interior. Puno, the highest ranking official being asked to testify so far, admitted to several mistakes that led to the tourists’ deaths during the 11-hour hostage standoff on August 23. He told the inquiry panel that he had not been prepared for the situation, which began when sacked Philippine policeman Rolando…
