Manila, Philippines- Justice Secretary Leila de Lima revealed on Thursday a plan to send a three-man Philippine investigating team to Hong Kong to take the testimonies of two survivors in the August 23 hostage-taking incident in Manila.

Speaking at a press conference, De Lima said the proposed team would be composed of two investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and one special prosecutor from the Department of Justice (DoJ).

“The NBI-DoJ team will get statements from survivors or get their depositions that could help the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IICR) to dig deeper into the tragic incident,” said De Lima.

She said there are two survivors willing to be interviewed but did not give out their names to media.

The DoJ chief said the two might have already given their statements to Hong Kong authorities regarding the bus hostage-taking that ended in the death of eight Hong Kong nationals and hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza.

“Should the statements of these survivors been given to Hong Kong police already, then the government (of the Philippines) may dispense with the sending of a team to Hong Kong. If the statements of the survivors given to Hong Kong are already clear and complete and there are no inconsistencies with what we have, then we will no longer take the statements of the survivors,” De Lima said.

She said the survivors' statements could be vital especially their accounts inside the bus and the moments leading to the bloodbath, what triggered the hostage-taker to start shooting, and everything else to help the committee resolve the case.

“If we send a team to Hong Kong, we have to go to the right diplomatic channel. We are now preparing the proper arrangements for the trip. We are waiting for clearance from Hong Kong,” De Lima said.

The IICR, headed by both the DoJ and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), will begin its formal hearing this Friday with Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and Director General Jesus Verzosa, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, among those called to attend to shed light on their respective roles in managing the hostage crisis.

De Lima debunked reports that the joint committee hearings would only delay the release of the results of the separate investigations of the PNP and NBI.

She said that, on the contrary, the hearings would add credibility to the results since evidence will be properly collated and before necessary recommendations are made.

“The committee can collate the results and evidence, and make the necessary presentation and recommendations. We will act swiftly because we are under time constraints,” De Lima said.

Others expected to appear at Friday’s hearing are DILG Underscretary Rico Puno, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Leocadio Santiago, former Manila Police District director Rodolfo Magtibay, and the two of the hostage negotiators.

The Filipino driver of the bus who survived was also invited to go along with them during the inspection, De Lima said.

She said the hearing will start this Friday and will resume on Saturday, and another hearing on Monday where the committee is expected to go to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig to conduct  an ocular inspection on the ill-fated tourist bus. A reenactment will also be conducted on Monday.

De Lima also revealed that the woman who drove the Toyota Vios and dropped off Mendoza to Fort Santiago in Manila will, likewise, be asked to appear on Monday.