MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima does not discount the possibility that President Benigno Aquino may be invited by the very committee he created to investigate the August 23 Manila hostage-taking incident.

Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, de Lima, who chairs the Incident Investigation and Review Committee, said inviting the President is something that the committee will consider if the need arises for him to shed light on some issues.

"That's not being ruled out. That is something we cannot rule out. Kung makita na may need to get some information from the President, we may. But right now, there is no plan," de Lima said.

De Lima assured the President is not meddling into the affairs of the committee, saying the President only had one instruction: for the committee to do a thorough, comprehensive, fair and accurate review of the incident.

De Lima also said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo may also be called upon to shed light on the incident.

"If it comes to that, we can also ask him to do the same. That's the reason why we have representatives in the committee from various sectors. So hypothetically, if we come to that, we will do it. Command responsibility can go as high, we will include that in our evaluation," she said.  "There will be no whitewash."

De Lima earlier said the committee, which she chairs, expects to finish its probe on the hostage crisis in 2 to 3 weeks. 

Robredo co-chairs the committee, which is a joint undertaking by the justice and interior departments.

Asked how far up will the committee probe command responsibility in the management of the crisis, de Lima said: "Command responsibility can go as high. We will include that in our evaluation and recommendations."

De Lima said the proceedings of the committee will be open to the media and the public, in the interest of transparency. She also assured that the presence of 3 committee members apart from her and Robredo will ensure that the probe will be fair.

Anti-crime advocate Teresita Ang-See has been asked to join the committee as a representative of the Filipino-Chinese community.

Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) President Herman Basbano will represent the media, while Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) officer Atty. Roan Libarios will complete the 5-member committee.

The Department of Justice and Department of Interior and Local Government inked Joint Department Order No. 01-2010 on 30 August 2010 creating the committee.

De Lima earlier allowed Hong Kong police to examine the hijacked tourist bus where 8 Hong Kong tourists died, but told them they could not interfere in the investigation into the tragedy. She also granted the Hong Kong police permission to examine the firearms used by the police assault team as well as by the gunman, and to interview witnesses.

The justice chief also barred members of the Philippine National Police from speaking about the investigation, in another sign of rising pressure it is under to give a clear and accurate account of last week's hijacking.

One of the key parts of the inquiry ordered by President Aquino was to determine whether the hostages were killed by bullets from the hijacker's weapons or from the raiding policemen.

Sacked police officer Rolando Mendoza hijacked a bus with 22 Hong Kong tourists and three Filipinos on August 23 in an effort to be cleared of extortion charges and get his job back.

The crisis ended in a botched rescue attempt that left 8 Hong Kong tourists dead, triggering public outrage in the southern Chinese city and a chilling of ties.

Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Secretary Ricky Carandang assured the public the Philippine government will be transparent in its investigation into the hostage-taking incident. He said Hong Kong investigators will be allowed to observe every step of the Philippine government probe of the hostage incident.

Carandang refused to comment on whether there would be a conflict of interest with respect to the involvement of Secretary Robredo amid calls for his resignation for failing to resolve the hostage crisis peacefully.

He said the Palace is not blaming anyone for the deaths in the tragedy, and urged the public to wait for the results of the investigation.

NCRPO hold crisis management exercise

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), meanwhile, started a 4-day crisis management exercise that aims to correct errors committed by police officers in the handling and management of the August 23 hostage crisis.

One of the instructors, Senior Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, admitted there were lapses during the hostage crisis including the lack of preparedness of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team who carried out the assault.

He said the NCRPO will review crisis management tactics, the basics of negotiating with hostage-takers and address issues encountered during the hostage tragedy. -- with a report from Ina Reformina, ABS-CBN News; With Agence France Presse