国际英语新闻：2nd phase investigation of Manila hostage crisis to begin next week

MANILA, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) will begin next week the second phase of investigation on the Aug. 23 hostage crisis, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Thursday.

The second phase aims to institutionalize reforms of enhancing the capabilities of concerned agencies in dealing with similar situations in the future.

De Lima said the five-member panel will begin its work with a "table review" of the manuals, guidelines, rules and protocols being followed by the Philippine National Police, the National Police Commission and the local governments during crisis situations.

"The IIRC will be issuing requests to various agencies for the production of certain documents. Likewise, similar requests would be mailed to several resource persons to help us during the review, " she said at a press briefing.

She said the IIRC will determine which individuals will be called by the panel as a resource person during the second part of its investigation.

For this part, the review panel was given by President Aquino 30 days within which to submit its report, but De Lima said that the time table is "not cast in stone."

"It should have two months, but the one month has lapsed, then we have one month. We will not waste time, that's why it is important that we make first the table review of all relevant documents," she said.

The IIRC's report, she said, would help enhance the capabilities of the police force and the local governments to respond to similar crisis situations.

The review panel's initial reports and recommendations on the possible criminal and administrative liabilities of the police officials and negotiators, local government executives and media personalities have yet to be officially released by the Presidential Palace after President Aquino ordered another legal team to review it.

De Lima said an addendum shall also be submitted by the panel to the Palace next week, as soon as the committee has received the result of the ballistic examinations of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police.