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In the face of visa sanction, PNoy stands firm: No apology to HK
(Updated 3:51 p.m.) As the latest sanction by Hong Kong over a fatal hostage crisis in Manila nearly four years ago took effect Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino III reiterated he does not intend to apologize for the tragedy.
In an interview published in The New York Times Tuesday (US time), Aquino said an apology could create a "legal liability."
"In his first public response to the sanctions, Mr. Aquino said he had no plans to apologize, saying that this could create a legal liability and noting that China had not paid compensation to the families of Filipinos who had died in episodes on the mainland," the NYT report said.
On Wednesday, the latest sanction by Hong Kong against Manila took effect - a visa requirement for holders of red and blue official passports, which would include Aquino himself.
The move is expected to affect only Philippine government officials and not holders of regular passports.
A report on Radio Television Hong Kong on Wednesday said: "Holders of diplomatic passports no longer enjoy visa-free access to the territory," it said.
Hong Kong's demands for an apology stemmed from the August 2010 crisis where a dismissed policeman took a busload of tourists hostage to demand his reinstatement.
The policeman and eight of the tourists were killed in a failed rescue operation.
No apology from PHL govt
In an interview published in The New York Times Tuesday (US time), Aquino said an apology could create a "legal liability."
"In his first public response to the sanctions, Mr. Aquino said he had no plans to apologize, saying that this could create a legal liability and noting that China had not paid compensation to the families of Filipinos who had died in episodes on the mainland," the NYT report said.
On Wednesday, the latest sanction by Hong Kong against Manila took effect - a visa requirement for holders of red and blue official passports, which would include Aquino himself.
The move is expected to affect only Philippine government officials and not holders of regular passports.
A report on Radio Television Hong Kong on Wednesday said: "Holders of diplomatic passports no longer enjoy visa-free access to the territory," it said.
Hong Kong's demands for an apology stemmed from the August 2010 crisis where a dismissed policeman took a busload of tourists hostage to demand his reinstatement.
The policeman and eight of the tourists were killed in a failed rescue operation.
No apology from PHL govt
As early as October last year, the President had said that the Philippine government cannot apologize to Hong Kong for the actions of a single individual.
At the time, Aquino said he explained to Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung that Filipino culture dictates that we only apologize when we "admit that we are at fault as a country, as a government, and as a people."
During the New York Times interview on Tuesday, Aquino also explained that there is no liability on the part of the government when it comes to particular incidents against foreign nationals, citing attacks or accidents against Filipinos in China.
"It is simply a reiteration of what he already conveyed. And let us take note that, even after he had conveyed that, nakapagpatuloy naman yung usapan ng kabilang panig para nga mapalapit sa pagkakaroon ng closure on this issue," Communications Operations Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma said on Wednesday.
The Palace official said Filipinos residing and working in Hong Kong should not worry that they will suffer a backlash from the continuing diplomatic row.
"Ang ating pamahalaan ay handa sa mga posibilidad na maaaring manggaling doon sa mga inaambang aksyon. At patuloy na naninindigan ang ating pamahalaan na gagawin ang lahat ng nararapat upang pangalagaan ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipino sa Hong Kong SAR," he said.
"All of our actions are guided by our judgment on what will promote their welfare and interest, that is why we would like to act na hindi naman ma-jeopardize ang kanilang interes," he added during an ambush interview. — with Kimberly Jane Tan/LBG/RSJ/HS/ELR, GMA News
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