Survivors and relatives of the victims of last year's Manila hostage crisis yesterday met a Philippine government minister for the first time since the disaster, but failed to get the official apology they were hoping for.
Instead, Philippine Justice Secretary Leila De Lima expressed only 'deep regret' on behalf of her department, saying she was not in a position to apologise for the nation.
De Lima's statement echoed that of her government, which marked the first anniversary of the crisis in which seven Hong Kong tourists and their tour guide were killed, by saying that it 'recognises the grief and burden' of the victims' families, but fell short of offering an apology.
'On the eve of the first anniversary of the Quirino Grandstand incident, the Filipino people renew their sympathy and solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of Hong Kong,' said a statement issued on behalf of the Philippine government by presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda
After her one-hour meeting with the Hong Kong delegation, De Lima said there had been 'a good and interesting exchange. It is a very tragic and unfortunate incident which I am sure has caused so much pain and trauma to the victims and the survivors, and also caused embarrassment to the country.'
She said the Incident Investigation and Review Committee appointed by her government to investigate the incident had been disbanded. The government could not, therefore, follow up its recommendations to President Benigno Aquino for criminal charges to be filed against various officials involved in the botched handling of the siege.