Survivors of Manila hostage tragedy seek punishment vs some PHL execs

Nearly a year after the tragedy, survivors of the Aug. 23, 2010 Manila hostage crisis are still seeking punishment for Philippine officials responsible for the botched rescue attempt. The survivors also want an apology from the Philippine government and measures to ensure the safety of tourists while in the country, Hong Kong’s The Standard reported Monday. "It has been almost one year and the Philippine government has done absolutely nothing to settle this case," said Tse Chi-kin, who wants to ask Aquino if he thinks his country’s interests are more important than lives lost or wrecked, according to the Standard report. The report, however, did not identify the Philippine officials whom the survivors wanted to be punished. Tse is the older brother of tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn, who was among those killed in last year’s incident. He and younger brother Tse Chi-hang, along with survivors Joe Chan Kwok-chu and Lee Ying-chuen, delivered the demand during a closed-door meeting yesterday with Philippine deputy consul general Kira Danganan-Azucena Sunday, the report said. Eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in the incident along with hostage-taker dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, following a botched police rescue attempt. Last March, an inquest jury in Hong Kong returned a verdict of unlawful killing in the eight deaths and said the botched rescue attempt set off the bloodbath. Also, Hong Kong has maintained a black alert against travel to the Philippines after the incident. Closed-door meet On Sunday, the two and survivors of last year’s incident said they want to meet Philippine President Benigno Aquino III. Tse said Azucena told him Manila is looking into how to punish officials held responsible, and that there is also talk of 50 measures to safeguard tourists. But Tse said he is not certain if Aquino will meet them. The group sent a letter to Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen seeking a meeting with him before they leave for Manila next Sunday. But a spokeswoman from Tsang’s office said the request was turned down as the chief executive has a busy schedule. Instead, they were to meet representatives from the Security Bureau Monday. As for the group’s request for the incident to be tackled by diplomatic means, they were told the Philippine government cannot intervene as it is now a civil case. But To said that if bureau officials reject the idea of government involvement, the group will petition Vice Premier Li Keqiang when he visits Hong Kong this week. Valte scored for disrespectful response Tse scored deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte for a “disrespectful" response when she said the government will be “ready to defend" when the survivors seek legal aid to sue the Philippine government. Valte had been quoted as saying that “If and when the families do decide to file suit we will be ready to defend." “Instead of saying they are ready to defend, they should be thinking about how to make it up to those who died in the tragedy," Tse said. — RSJ, GMA News