MANILA ? The Philippines on Sunday said it needed more time to complete its official inquiry into a deadly hostage crisis that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.

The investigation, which began last week, was to have been wrapped up Monday before a formal report is submitted to President Benigno Aquino and Hong Kong authorities.

But members of the investigating committee need additional days to question more witnesses as well as to re-enact the hostage drama that ended in a bungled police rescue, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told AFP.

"We will be extending up to Wednesday, it is not possible to wrap up (the investigation) tomorrow," de Lima said.

De Lima said members of the inquiry board would on Tuesday inspect the park where the hostage taking played out live on televisions around the world on August 23.

A re-enactment of the day-long crisis was to be also carried out Wednesday at a police camp where the bullet-riddled bus is being kept, she said.

A sacked police inspector hijacked a tourist bus full of Hong Kong tourists two weeks ago, in a crazed bid to regain his old job.

The stand-off ended in a bloody mess, when unprepared police commandos launched a rescue attempt riddled with errors that left eight of the tourists dead.

Hong Kong authorities have demanded a speedy and impartial investigation amid a public outcry and a chilling of ties between the neighbours.

The inquiry has so far uncovered embarrassing lapses from police and city officials who took part in the failed hostage negotiations.

On Saturday, Manila's deputy mayor Isko Moreno told the inquiry that officials involved in the crisis had left their posts when the gunman began shooting while the force's best-trained unit sat out the assault.