'I'm not visiting Hong Kong to apologise for bus siege' says Philippine minister
Philippine justice minister says she has no plan to brief families on bus siege killings, and Aquino has not spoken to her about rumoured trip
The Philippine Justice Secretary has denied she has any plan to come to Hong Kong to apologise for a bungled rescue mission during a bus siege three years ago that left eight Hongkongers dead.
Leila De Lima told reporters in Manila yesterday that she was never instructed by President Benigno Aquino to make the official apology that has been sought by the Hong Kong government.
It had been reported that Aquino agreed to send De Lima to Hong Kong yesterday to brief victims' families on the judicial process and status of their cases.
"There is no truth to the rumour that I will go to Hong Kong [yesterday]. It's kind of strange this rumour went the rounds because in the first place the president has not talked to me about it," De Lima told the newspaper.
Philippine presidential office spokeswoman Abigail Valte told the : "Secretary De Lima says she is waiting for further instructions from the president."
Aquino earlier insisted he would make no apology, saying the lone gunman was to blame. Seven Hong Kong tourists and their guide were killed and several others hurt when fired Manila policeman Rolando Mendoza took them hostage at gunpoint on their tour bus in the Philippine capital. A bungled rescue saw the gunman shot dead by police.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party said yesterday that the government should suspend all exchanges with, and put an embargo on products from, the Philippines to increase the city's bargaining power ahead of an upcoming ministerial meeting.
