PHL wants HK to lift travel ban a year after hostage crisis

The Philippine government will request Hong Kong to lift its travel ban against the Philippines by showing the efforts done to address the problems connected to the Manila hostage incident of 2010, the Palace said Wednesday. In a media briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the government has addressed all concerns related to the hostage incident on August 23, 2010, where eight people were killed including Hong Kong tourists and the hostage taker. “We’ve addressed all of them and hopefully by addressing all of them, the Hong Kong government will not deprive its citizens of coming over and seeing the beauty of the Philippines," Lacierda said. An hour after the hostage crisis was over, the Security Bureau of Hong Kong advised its citizens to avoid all travel to the Philippines. Post crisis efforts After the crisis, the government has installed more tourist police in areas frequented by tourists, Lacierda explained. It has also designed “night courts" to handle tourist-related cases even in the evening, he said. Lacierda noted that Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez III has been sacked for mishandling the case of the slain former policeman and hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza. He added that Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, head of the Manila police during the hostage incident, has been relieved. Metro Manila police chief Leocadio Santiago Jr. has also been suspended in connection with the hostage-taking incident, Lacierda said. Cases are pending for other implicated officials, he also said. “So we have been moving and understandably, it may not be to their satisfaction. But they cannot accuse us of saying that we are not doing anything about the hostage-taking incident. We have taken steps to address their concerns and we are doing that right now," Lacierda said. No new apology Meanwhile, the Palace official said the Aquino administration will not issue another apology after President Benigno Aquino III already apologized “once or twice." “I don’t know [kung ano] ang gusto po nilang eksaktong sinabi, pero klaro po kami, noong unang labas po ni Pangulong Aquino, he already expressed regrets over the incident," Lacierda said. He also said a private initiative is under way to provide a “solidarity fund" for the victims. “I’m not sure what’s the status right now of that private initiative, but I understand some of the families have already accepted the solidarity fund," Lacierda said. Survivors of the hostage crisis are still seeking punishment for Philippine officials responsible for the botched rescue attempt, a Hong Kong newspaper reported Monday. — PE/VS, GMA News