Philippines not to set aside HK hostage crisis: official

Philippine Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte on Sunday reassured families of the victims of the Quirino hostage crisis of 2010 that resulted in the death of eight Hong Kong tourists that their plight is not being set aside and efforts to find a solution is being done.

Valte said in an interview over state radio Radyo ng Bayan that President Benigno Aquino III had already instructed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to provide the families of the victims of the hostage crisis a briefing on the status of the case and how the legal process works in Manila.

"It is a way of moving forward. It doesn't mean that it diminishes what had happened or that it is being set aside. On the contrary, it is being addressed and, hopefully, both parties did acknowledge the need to find a resolution to it," she added.

Aquino met with Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying last week at the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC) Summit in Bali in Indonesia where they discussed the hostage incident and the efforts of the two governments to come up with a solution to finally put the issue behind them.

Aquino said during the meeting that the Philippines sincerely condoles with the families of the victims but neither he nor the Philippine government could apologize for the incident as it was instigated by just one person.

Local media also reported on Sunday that preparations are under way for the trip to Hong Kong of Leila de Lima, who has been tasked to explain to victims of the 2010 Manila hostage crisis the country's judicial process.

The Manila hostage-taking crisis occurred on Aug. 23, 2010 when a dismissed Philippine National Police officer hijacked a tourist bus carrying 25 people in Quirino grandstand in Rizal Park. Botched hostage rescue led to the death of eight Hong Kong tourists.