DSWD chief: Govt decision on 'solidarity offering' out Thursday

Amid conflicting positions by various sectors on the matter, Malacañang expects to decide by Thursday whether to extend a "solidarity offering" to Hong Kong over last week's bloody hostage crisis. On Wednesday, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said they are still studying the matter and will make the recommendation to President Benigno Aquino III Thursday. "May nagpapayo mula sa madla na nagsasabing magbigay tayo ng solidarity offering o kaya may nagsasabing di na kailangan. Pinag-aaralan yan ngayon at inaasahan naming magkakaroon ng recommendation bukas at ibibigay namin sa pangulo at maghihintay kami ng dagdag na instructions (We have received inputs from various sectors on the solidarity offering. We are studying it and we will give our recommendations to the president on Thursday and await further instructions from him)," Soliman said in an interview on dzBB radio. She said there is no definite amount for the offering as of now, even as she maintained it is not "compensation" for damages suffered by the victims. At least eight Hong Kong tourists were killed along with their hostage-taker, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, in last week's 11-hour standoff. The incident tested relations between the Philippines and China and Hong Kong. Soliman said the solidarity offering should not be seen as a legal compensation, which she said will incur so many legal and political implications. "Pag bayad-pinsala, maraming kailangan tingnan, batayan, paano ikakalkula. Ang bayad-pinsala may legal at political na implication. Ang atin lang, nais natin tumulong bilang mga nakakaunawa na maaring nangangailangan sila, maganda makapagtulong tayo o makapag-offer (Compensation involves so many calculations and legal and political implications. What we want is to show Hong Kong people that we understand them and we sympathize with them, and are willing to offer help)," she said. Neither should it be seen as some sort of insurance payment for the victims, she added. Besides, she said the victims' families are not demanding compensation, although participants at a protest march in Hong Kong last Sunday had hinted at some form of compensation. "Dalawa ang hinihiling nila ayon sa pahayagan, di pormal na pinaabot. Mag-apologize ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas, at magbigay ng compensation sa mga namatayan, yan ang hinihiling ng nagmartsa (Sunday's marchers had sought an apology from the Philippine government and some form of compensation)," she said. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV