Philippine navy sailors (in white) escort the coffins containing the bodies of the victims of the deadly hostage-taking to a Cathay Pacific plane on its flight back to Hong Kong at the international airport in Manila Wednesday.Ted Aljibe / AFP

While the Philippines observed a Day of National Mourning over Monday's hostage tragedy, the investigation into the incident began with the suspensions of five local police officers.

The head of Manila's police district Rodolfo Magtibay, who gave the assault order Monday night, requested to be temporarily relieved of his post on Wednesday, saying that he assumes full responsibility. The move also paves the way for an impartial investigation into the hostage incident, said a Philippine National Police spokesman.

Four leaders of the Special Weapons and Tactical (SWAT) team were also relieved of their posts to ensure they "did not exert undue influence on the investigation".

Philippines Police have come under world-wide condemnation for mishandling the crisis that resulted in the deaths of eight Hong Kong citizens and the wounding of seven others.

The bloody rescue on Monday night left the bus a wreck, riddled with bullet holes, strewn with broken glass and splattered with bloodstains on a major thoroughfare in downtown Manila.

An examination of bullets taken from the victims and from inside the bus is being conducted by the Philippines Police. The bullet holes on the windows were marked for examination to determine whether they were fired by Police or by Roland Mendoza, the disgraced ex-policeman turned hostage-taker.

The 200 members of the SWAT team were ordered to turn over their weapons for ballistics tests.

Philippines National Police Wednesday afternoon announced the autopsy results from the victims, stating the cause of death of all eight Hong Kong tourists was gunshot wounds, "all from high powered firearms".

The autopsy report confirmed the hostage-taker was shot by snipers. It could not say whether the victims were shot at close range since all were wearing clothing and there was no characteristic tattooing around the bullet wounds, the police spokesman added.

Autopsies were not conducted on three of the victims at the request of their families, said Lai Tong-kwok, under secretary for security of the Hong Kong SAR in Manila.

Lai noted that Hong Kong police has no enforcement power, therefore could not participate in the investigation and the autopsy.

President Aquino Tuesday admitted that Monday's hostage crisis was mishandled. The Philippine Senate has already promised a full investigation into the botched attempt to rescue the hostages.

Aquino declared August 25 as a Day of National Mourning for the victims. Flags flew at half-mast at the Presidential Office, government agencies and all the country's embassies and consulates abroad.

A public mourning ceremony was held at the site Wednesday morning. Local Chinese paid respects and condolence to the victims and their families.

China Daily

(HK Edition 08/26/2010 page1)