HK officials receive Manila's formal apology for 2010 bus hostage crisis

Hong Kong officials on Friday received the city government of Manila's formal apology for  the 2010 Manila bus hostage crisis that killed eight Hong Kong tourists, a television report on Saturday said.

 

 

Manila councilor Bernardito Ang personally delivered to Hong Kong officials a copy of the City Council of Manila's Resolution No. 115 Series of 2013, which is the local government's apology  to the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and families of the eight Hong Kong tourists for the hostage incident that occurred at the Quirino grandstand three years ago. 

 

On Tuesday, Manila mayor Joseph Estrada said he will personally deliver the city resolution to officials in Hong Kong and in Beijing, China. 

 

A report that appeared on the same day on the "South China Morning Post" quoted Estrada as saying that he plans to apologize to Chinese officials when he flies to Hong Kong and China next month.

 

According to Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, Manila's City Council did not seek the approval from the Foreign Affairs Department nor the Palace on the written apology. He asserted  that the local government of Manila may file a resolution without the approval of the national government under the Local Government Code.

 

In August 2010, dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza seized a tourist bus and held hostage 25 Hong Kong nationals at the Quirino Grandstand. The eight hostages were killed in a botched rescue attempt.

 

President Beingo Aquino III has been adamant about his refusal to issue an apology for the incident, saying that he does not think it is "appropriate" for the whole country to apologize for what one person did.

 

Earlier this month, Aquino met with Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung to express his regret for the 2010 Manila hostage crisis but maintained that the Philippines will not say sorry for the incident. – Xianne Arcangel / KDM, GMA News