Healing Mass marks 1st month of Aug 23 hostage tragedy

A Mass for healing highlighted Thursday the first-month commemoration of the bloody August 23 Manila hostage tragedy that left eight tourists from Hong Kong dead. Radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales led the Mass at the Shrine of St. Therese of the Child Jesus in Pasay City. Police officials led by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Raul Bacalzo attended the Mass. The venue was near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. The report said participants at the Mass prayed for healing and reconciliation. PNP Community Relations Group head Director Cipriano Querol said they also prayed for honest, orderly and peaceful elections in the Oct. 25 barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) polls. Eight Hong Kong tourists were killed along with their hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, in the 11-hour standoff last Aug. 23. The incident also tested relations between the Philippines and China. Hong Kong issued a "black" travel advisory discouraging travel to the Philippines. A multi-sectoral probe body, the Incident Investigation and Review Committee, had recommended charges against at least 12 personalities and three television networks for the incident. — LBG, GMANews.TV