Survivors criticize Philippines over lack of cooperation
Updated: 2011-03-02 07:46
By kane Wu(HK Edition)
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A government forensic chemist says he has requested additional materials from the Philippine authorities, in an attempt to identify certain vital evidence gathered in the aftermath of the Manila hostage crisis.
Human DNA was detected in a bullet fragment recovered during an autopsy on Rolando Mendoza, a corrupt ex-cop, who hijacked a Hong Kong tour bus August 23, 2010.
Senior forensic chemist Bobbie Cheung from the Physical Sciences Section of the Government Laboratory told the court that the laboratory is unable to determine whether the DNA belonged to Mendoza and requires a sample of the gunman's DNA.
"We have requested the Philippine government several times to send us a sample DNA, but they haven't provided it to us to this day," Cheung said.
The lab also found blood-stained footprints inside the bus, but it failed to make further analysis because it did not obtain any information on who had been in the bus during the hostage crisis from the Philippines, Cheung added.
A joint statement from seven hostage survivors and victims' family members that urges the Philippine government to send witnesses to Hong Kong was sent to the Philippine government by the Hong Kong Chief Executive Office Tuesday.
A spokeswoman from the office said the statement was transferred via the Consulate General of the Philippines in Hong Kong and that the government will follow up with Manila on the request.
"I hope that the Philippine government will respect the victims and the Coroner's Court and send witnesses to Hong Kong," Tse Che-kin, brother of tour leader Masa Tse, who was killed in the crisis, said outside the court Tuesday.
He said he felt "disappointed" with Manila's attitude and said it would have been better if the witnesses could testify in person instead of making written statements.
Forensic chemist Cheung explained how the DNA traces of Masa Tse were found in the samples collected from the front windscreen of the bus and a rug behind the glass screen.
He also told the court his assumption regarding where Tse might have been handcuffed near the bus entrance.
However, he said the handcuff went missing.
Cheung went to Manila twice to collect samples at the end of August and in early September in 2010.
He said it was "difficult" to obtain useful samples while keeping the scene unchanged at the same time.
Also testifying Tuesday was Raymond Chan Siu-kei, superintendent from the Police Forensic Firearms Examination Bureau.
He illustrated to the court that many windows on the bus were damaged and that most of them, he believed, were caused by bullets.
Chan will continue his testimony Wednesday. The scheduled 25-day inquest has gone over the half-way point. None of the 116 summoned Philippine witnesses have shown up in court so far.
China Daily
(HK Edition 03/02/2011 page1)