Asia-Pacific

Philippine House of Rep. to conduct inquiry on hostage-taking

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-08-26 15:41

MANILA -- The Philippine House of Representatives will conduct its own investigation on the 11-hour hostage-taking incident on Monday, which resulted in the killing of eight hostages and injury of seven others of the tourists from China's Hong Kong, lawmakers said Thursday.

Related readings:  Authorities consider separate probe into hostage tragedy  HK to mourn hostage victims on Thursday  Chinese tourists tense after hostage tragedy  HK govt to spare no effort in assisting hostage families

Rep. Anthony Rolando Golez Jr. said there is an urgent need to know who are responsible for the hostage taking fiasco.

He said that the members of the House are serious in crafting laws to make sure that such incident will not happen again.

Rep. Rodolfo Antonino said the hostage taking incident was very unfortunate as those involved should not only be charged with kidnapping but also with "economic sabotage."

The Senate started Thursday morning its probe on the hostage- taking perpetrated by a dismissed police officer, who was also killed in the incident.