Police officers suspended over tourist bus hostage crisis

Four police officers in the Philippines were suspended on Wednesday following the hostage crisis in Manila earlier this week. The officers, who led the assault, were “relieved from their positions” after the day-long hijacking of a busload of Hong Kong tourists. The police have admitted to tactical and operational errors in their handling of the situation.

Photo: Reuters/Romeo Ranoco

“Pending the results of the investigation, they have been administratively relieved from their positions,” Agrimero Cruz, a police senior superintendent, told journalists.

Cruz said an inquiry into the crisis was being conducted and the four had been suspended in order to ensure that they did not “exert undue influence on the investigation”.

200 members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team were also ordered to turn their weapons over for ballistics tests.

Meanwhile in Hong Kong the Filipino community expressed concern on Wednesday over possible retribution.

One of the main trade unions in the country said at least one Filipino worker had been sacked following the tourist bus siege.

Eman Villanueva, from the Filipino Migrant Workers’ Union, told journalists that it was “directly related to this incident” and voiced concern for the 200,000 Filipinos living in Hong Kong and their job security.

Eight Hong Kong tourists died in the hostage-taking on Monday when an ex-police officer hijacked a bus, triggering a 12-hour standoff.