Philippines apologizes for 2010 Manila hostage crisis

Source:Agencies-Global Times Published: 2014-4-24 1:43:01

Philippines Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras stands and looks down before a press conference in Hong Kong, Wednesday. The Philippines made an apology to the families of eight tourists killed in a 2010 Manila hostage standoff. Photo: IC

The Philippine government offered an apology and compensation for a hostage crisis in Manila nearly four years ago, in which  eight Hong Kong residents were killed.

"The Philippine Government expresses its most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy, and extends its most sincere condolences for the pain and suffering of the victims and their families," said a joint statement issued by the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Philippine government on Wednesday.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR Leung Chun-ying and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III came to a mutually satisfactory conclusion to the crisis, and both governments have agreed with the four demands of the victims and their families for an apology, compensation, sanctions against responsible officials and individuals, and improving tourist safety measures, according to the statement.

Hong Kong's government has lifted sanctions against the Philippines since the apology.

Hong Kong government in January announced that the sanction which became effective on February 5 by suspending 14-day visa-free treatment for holders of diplomatic and official passports of the Republic of the Philippines, after the Philippines failed to offer an apology.

Leung said that the bilateral relations between the city and Philippines will be normalized.

The Philippine government has also assured the Hong Kong government that such an incident will not occur again.

While the compensation amount offered by Manila has not been disclosed publicly, media reports said it was around HK$20 million ($2.6 million).

On Aug 23 2010, a sacked Philippine police officer hijacked a bus with 21 Hong Kong tourists on board. The hostage taker got shot in a bungled police rescue.

Survivors and relatives of the victims have been demanding an apology from the Philippine government, an offer of compensation, punishment for the officials responsible for the bungled police operation and improvements in tourist safety. But the Philippines had never met their demands before Tuesday.

The victims' families said they too were satisfied with the Philippine government's apology and compensation.




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