Senate expresses its sympathies to victims
of Luneta Park hostage-taking incident

The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution expressing the chamber's sincerest and most heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends, and relatives of the victims of the unfortunate hostage-taking incident at the Luneta Park last Monday.

The resolution, introduced by Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., adopted by the chamber, urged the Senate to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident. It also called for the close monitoring of all other investigations "to ensure that justice will immediately be served to the victims."

"The Senate will also ensure that there will be no whitewash or cover-ups and that those who shall be found erring will be dealt with by the full force of the law," the resolution said.

Copies of the resolution are expected to be given to the families of the victims and to the government of the People's Republic of China, through their embassy in Manila, and to Donald Tsang, chief executive of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong.

Senator Gringo Honasan, chair of the committee on Public Information and Mass Media, and the committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, earlier said that he, together with Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero who heads the committee on Justice and Human rights, will be holding a hearing to tackle the hostage-taking incident, among others, tomorrow, Thursday.

"The hearing will also cover the torture of an alleged suspect by a member of the Tondo police force, and the spate of killings by hired guns," Honasan said.

Meanwhile, Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla is expected to file a resolution later today, directing the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation, on the eleven-hour long Luneta Park hostage-taking incident.

Senator Manny Villar, for his part, is expected to file a resolution urging the Senate committees on Economic Affairs, Trade and Commerce, and Public Order and Illegal Drugs, to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the effects of the televised hostage taking incident to the country's business environment, the investment climate and the economy in general.

* Press Release by Public Relations and Information Bureau (PRIB)