Noy junks ‘friendly fire’ claims By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Benjamin B. Pulta 09/11/2010

Says too early to conclude police killed hostages

Noy junks ‘friendly fire’ claims

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Benjamin B. Pulta
09/11/2010

With the inter-agency investigative body coming up with statements of probable “friendly fire” having killed some of the eight Hong Kong tourists while wounding another eight during the botched hostage rescue operations, President Aquino junked the “friendly fire” claims and even appeared to be defending the incompetence of his Philippine National Police (PNP) and the assault team as he yesterday warned the public not to jump to conclusions.

“Let us determine what took place before we comment on something that might or might not have happened. Let us not jump to conclusions,” Aquino stressed to reporters.

He was referring to remarks of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, head of the special investigating panel, that some of the hostages might have been hit by “friendly fire” as police tried to rescue them.

Initially, it was reported Mendoza had shot the hostages at close range.

However, De Lima said the investigation had found that the hostages were not all shot at close range and that many more policemen may have fired on the bus than was originally believed..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100911hed1.html