MANILA, Philippines – Members of a multisectoral body investigating the August 23 hostage-taking incident in Manila went to the Quirino Grandstand site on Tuesday to inspect the area.

After holding a day-long hearing at the Department of Justice (IIRC), the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) led by DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima had a first-hand look at the area. 

The IIRC members spent some time at the Luneta police community precinct, where the police established their forward command post during the crisis.

They said they wanted to see for themselves if some of the statements made by witnesses in the hearings matched the actual places they mentioned.

"We wanted to know the holding area, where the meeting was held, where SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza [the hostage-taker’s brother] was eventually escorted,” de Lima said. “We wanted to verify for ourselves.”

Hong Kong police and Chinese journalists joined the IIRC members in the ocular inspection. 

"I’ve been here many times, but only on the bus. This time, we’re looking at the deployment of SWAT and other personnel involved," said Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, who co-chairs the investigative body.

The IIRC hearings will continue Wednesday before the team makes it way to a police warehouse at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City where the hijacked bus has been stored. – with a report from Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News