MANILA, Philippines – Only 46 of the 116 Filipinos invited to testify at the coroner’s inquest in Hong Kong into the bloody hostage taking in Manila last August are attending.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Friday only the personnel of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory have so far agreed to attend the proceedings which starts on Monday.

The rest have declined the invitation, de Lima said.

Among those who refused to attend are Manila Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno, Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, the former Manila Police District (MPD) director, hostage negotiator Superintendent Orlando Yebra Jr., tourist bus driver Alberto Lubang and other personnel of the Direction Travel and Tours Inc.

Eight Hong Kong nationals were killed in a botched attempt to rescue a busload of tourists held captive by dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza last August 23.

Mendoza was himself killed when SWAT teams stormed the bus.

“There were those who declined (the invitation). Ang nagconfirm pa lang ang PNP Crime Lab. Yesterday (Thursday) we sent a letter to the chief state counsel. Nag-attach sila ng list ng mga nagdecline,” de Lima told reporters.

She said they are still waiting for clarification from the Hong Kong authorities regarding the scope of the probe.

“They reiterated what they said from the start that it’s for the determination of the real cause of death of eight of their nationals. I’ll consult the office of the chief state counsel for the list of those who declined,” de Lima said.

De Lima said they have yet to receive official acknowledgment about their request to enforce Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) regarding the inquest.

“They just explained that the inquest proceedings were not a criminal proceeding, so technically it is not covered by the MLAT,” she said.

De Lima said the Hong Kong representatives assured that the witnesses would be provided with the safeguards guaranteed in the treaty.

She said she herself had not received an invitation to appear before the coroner’s office so there was no reason for her to go to Hong Kong.

However, de Lima said she was still considering sending a member of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) to Hong Kong to observe the proceedings.

She said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has already served summons to majority of the 116 Filipinos who were invited to testify.

De Lima clarified that attendance at the inquest was strictly voluntary.

A news report in the Hong Kong Standard said the inquest will last for 25 days and will be in Cantonese.

The report quoted barrister Jat Sew-tong, who act as the coroner's officer in the inquest, as saying that 32 Hong Kong residents, including some of the survivors, have been invited to the hearing.