People's Daily slams 'cold-blooded' Philippine government
The "reporter's observation" was published as Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying told the media that official discussions with the Philippines would start soon and the victims' families would be briefed on the progress later.
The overseas edition of Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily yesterday joined the Hong Kong media's attacks on the "cold-blooded" Philippine government's refusal to apologise for the 2010 Manila hostage crisis.
The "reporter's observation" was published as Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying told the media that official discussions with the Philippines would start soon and the victims' families would be briefed on the progress later.
Describing the Philippines as "cold-blooded" in its headline, the article said President Benigno Aquino's repeated refusal to bear responsibility and his insistence that a lone gunman was to blame was in conflict with his stance during the crisis.
At the time, he said that the Philippine police force - blamed for bungling the rescue attempt - reported directly to him and that he should be held fully responsible, the article noted.
Aquino's refusal to answer local journalists' questions during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation last week also came under fire. Citing an editorial in Philippine newspaper PhilNews, People's Daily said Aquino was not used to being asked sharp questions by "normal" journalists as Philippine reporters were perhaps too mild.
Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said: "The Palace has no comment to make on the story."