Philippines apologizes for 2010 Manila hostage crisis

The Philippine government expressed its most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy, and extended its most sincere condolences for the pain and suffering of the victims and their families in the bus hostage crisis that happened in Manila in August 2010, according to a joint statement issued by the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Philippine government here on Wednesday.

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

In the spirit of solidarity and in acknowledgment of the loss of the victims and their families, it said, an additional token of solidarity will be given to the victims or their families as a most sincere gesture of compassion of the people of the Philippines.

The Philippine government has assured the Hong Kong government that measures are being taken to hold to account those responsible and to see the outstanding proceedings conclude as soon as possible, said the statement, adding the Philippine government undertakes to keep the Hong Kong government informed of progress made in resolving the outstanding proceedings.

The Philippine government has also assured the Hong Kong government that it is committed to ensuring that such an incident will not occur again.

On Aug 23, 2010, a sacked Philippine police officer hijacked a bus with 21 Hong Kong tourists on board. The 11-hour hostage crisis ended with eight Hong Kong tourists killed and the hostage taker shot in a bungled police rescue.

For more than three years, 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 Philippine government had never offered an apology or compensation.