MANILA, Philippines (PNA) — Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Leila De Lima on Tuesday remained firm that there's no need to send to Hong Kong the 116 witnesses invited by the Hong Kong government for the conduct of their own investigation into the Manila hostage-taking incident.

De Lima chaired the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) tasked by President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III that conducted an in-depth investigation into the incident to determine what really transpired during that fateful day.

The incident claimed the lives of eight Hong Kong tourists, including the hostage-taker himself, dismissed Manila police Sr. Insp. Rolando Mendoza, in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park, Manila on Aug. 23, 2010.

De Lima stressed that if the only reason of the death of the eight hostaged Hong Kong nationals will be investigated, the IIRC Report may just be adopted.

Likewise, De Lima said, the elements of the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) might as well appear in the investigation of the Hong Kong government.

But if the Hong Kong government insists on the presence of the 116 witnesses, De Lima said, they should first get the "official confirmation" about the real scope and "nature" of the said investigation into the said crime committed last August 23.

The 116 witnesses include the members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, Special Action Force and other personalities who testified in the investigation of the IIRC.

De Lima added that it is just proper to place the 116 witnesses under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) so that their rights will be protected.

Aside from this, De Lima said, if the Filipino witnesses will be sent to Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government should shoulder all the expenses such as for plane fares, hotel accommodation, among others.

When asked if she's ready to go to Hong Kong to face the investigation there, De Lima said, she's open to such a possibility more so that she's the chairman of the IIRC that focused on the investigation of the Manila hostage-taking incident.