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Manila police had poor equipment, inquest told

Feb 28, 2011

Philippine police officers during last year’s Manila hostage siege were using poor quality equipment – including faulty bullet-proof vests, a Coroner’s Court inquest heard on Monday.

Coroner’s officer Memi Ng Mee-wah read out a transcript containing new information relating to the deaths of eight Hongkongers held hostage by sacked police officer Rolando Mendoza on August 23.

The transcript quoted police officer Edwin Simacon, who said he and his colleagues lacked adequate equipment during the hostage siege.

The transcript was taken during a fact-finding investigation by the Incident Investigation and Review Committee in the Philippines on September 4 last year.

Simacon, a member of the Swat team involved in the rescue, said his vest was not durable. “It could not even get wet [or] become soaked in the water… because it was only made of fibre,” he said.

He also said the vests would not stop bullets from an M16 rifle. Some vests worn by other officers had metal inside that offered greater protection.

But Simacon said the fibre vests could only stop 38, 45 and 99mm pistol bullets. “They could be penetrated by M16 and M14 [rifle bullets]…That’s why I did not trust them,” he said, adding that Mendoza was firing an MI6.

He said the vests also had an “expiration date” and had to be replaced every three to five years.

“I was not sure whether the vests were still bullet-proof or not”, the police officer said.Manila police also said explosive entry equipment, night vision goggles and better firearms might have helped speed up the rescue, the inquest heard.

The inquest continues before Coroner Michael Chan Pik-kiu continues in the afternoon with the testimony of expert witnesses.

Source:

http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=196d42dd96b6e210VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&ss=Hong+Kong&s=News

SCMP

Simpson Cheung
3:45pm

Poor Philippines Records in Law and Order drove city dwellers to enjoy holidays in havens like Clark Freeport.

Metro Manila has lost a great deal of its luster of old not only because of its failure to keep up with the times in development but also its reputation as a safe destination for family bonding, travelers looking to unwind and relax in a beach or a lake and retirees looking for a life of leisure.

Clark Pampanga was the largest foreign US airbase, complete with its own international airport with daily flights linking it to major cities around Asia. Inside of Clark Philippines are golf courses, casinos, family-styled resorts that smacks of the US suburban lifestyles and fine-dining restaurants.

This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon.

For assistance with organizing and planning weddings and garden receptions, log on to http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

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