DE LIMA
MANILA,
AUGUST 22, 2011 (STAR)
By Carina Roncesvalles (A grieving Lee Mei-chun (right), mother of
slain tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn, faces the Hong Kong media along with her
other sons Tse Chi-kin and Tse Chi-hang (second and third from left,
respectively) and Democratic Party legislator James To Kun-sun.
CARINA RONCESVALLES, HONG KONG)
The families and the lawyers of two survivors of the Luneta bus hostage
crisis are scheduled to arrive in Manila today to personally meet with Justice
Secretary Leila de Lima.
The Philippine government earlier said it would hold a Mass for peace and
solidarity in commemoration of the Aug. 23 hostage crisis at the Quirino
Grandstand that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.
Lee Mei-chun, mother of slain tour guide Masa Tse Ting-chunn, and her two
other sons Tse Chi-kin and Tse Chi-hang, and Democratic Party legislator James
To Kun-sun told a press conference here yesterday that they will meet with De
Lima to follow up their demands to the Philippine government for formal apology,
just compensation, accountability, and security for tourists.
The Tse family wept as they recounted in their local language how the tragedy
tore their family apart.
"We are still feeling sad and very disappointed on how the Philippine
government treated us with their response. Throughout the year, we did not
receive any reply from the Philippine government in any way, not any letter,
e-mail, fax or even a call, we didn't receive anything. They did not apologize
to us. They did not take the responsibility of what they had done," Tse Chi-hang
told Filipino reporters.
To said survivors Joe Chan Kwok-chu and Yik Siu-ling would be represented by
their lawyers during their meeting with the justice secretary.
The Democrat Party leader also brushed aside criticisms that he was
politicizing the bus hostage commemoration.
"I think it is only shifting of focus and is a laughable comment. Hong Kong
people's eyes are very clear on the issue of right and wrong. The shifting of
focus is only a showing of attitude of the highest leader of the Philippine
government, of their irresponsible attitude," To said.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda earlier expressed reservations over the
group's request to meet President Aquino, saying it has "political color."
To, however, welcomed De Lima's interest in meeting them. "We have a lot of
follow-up questions and issues to be discussed with her. Concerning her report,
recommendations, possible criminal investigation, plan of action, we want her to
give us follow-up," he said.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said De Lima will meet with the
families of the hostage victims tomorrow to discuss their concerns and mend ties
strained by the incident.
He said the Chinese embassy in Manila was mum on the meeting of the victims'
families and the Philippine government's handling of the hostage crisis.
"The meeting is directly communicated with the Philippine authorities through
the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong," said Sun Yi, deputy chief of
political section and spokesperson of the Chinese embassy.
Hong Kong expressed disappointment over the review and decision of
Malacañang's legal team to lessen the recommended actions of the incident
investigation and review committee against personalities involved in the failed
hostage rescue.
'Black' travel alert unfair
Malacañang yesterday cried unfair over the Hong Kong government's decision to
retain its "black" travel alert on the Philippines that would lump Manila with
strife-torn Syria.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over radio station dzRB
that the Philippine government had instituted the necessary reforms since the
Luneta hostage crisis occurred.
Valte said it was quite clear that the situation in the Philippines was
different from Syria's, where 17,000 Filipinos were facing evacuation. "We hope
they will see the difference," she added.
"While we hope that there would be a downgrade, what we can do really is to
show what we have done in the year that has passed... But that's all we can say
for now," she said.
But Valte could not say whether the issue would be tackled in the upcoming
visit of President Aquino to China on Aug. 30 to Sept. 3.
In its travel alert after the bloody hostage incident, Hong Kong advised its
people "to avoid all travel to the country" and that those who were already here
should attend to personal safety and exercise caution.
"Black alert" indicates a "severe threat" and only the Philippines and Syria
are in that level at this time in the HK security bureau.
Lim not meeting HK nationals
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is not meeting the survivors and families of the
victims of the bus hostage at the Quirino Grandstand last year.
Sources said the mayor has no plans to meet with the Hong Kong nationals. He
also refused to make further comment on the issue, saying it would be better to
forget about it.
"These are matters beyond your control which cannot be avoided," Lim said
yesterday when asked by reporters during the signing ceremony between him and
LandBank president and CEO Gilda Pico for the deed of donation of a garbage boat
to be used for the Manila Bay cleanup drive.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has yet to resolve the
administrative charges filed against Lim in connection with the hostage taking
incident.
Lim, who was the head of the crisis management committee during the hostage
crisis, was blamed for the botched rescue operations that resulted in the death
of eight Hong Kong tourists as well as hostage-taker dismissed Senior Inspector
Rolando Mendoza. - With Aurea Calica, Pia Lee-Brago, Sandy
Araneta
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
