FIVE YEARS AFTER
The horror of the 2010 Luneta bus hostage crisis will never happen again. Such was the assurance issued by Manila city officials yesterday during the ‘day of prayer' activity in memory of Hong Kongbased tourists who lost their lives during the tragic Luneta bus hostage crisis in 2010.
"There were numerous lapses, miscalculations, instances of inefficient management and miscommunication on that day. All these things led to the tragic and senseless deaths of eight tourists from Hong Kong–visitors from a neighbor in Asia that we regard as a friend and important economic partner," Mayor Joseph ‘Erap’Estrada said in his message to Buddhist monks who dedicated prayer chants to the eight slain tourists.
"We need Hong Kong more than Hong Kong needs us. Let us be honest with that," Estrada added.
On August 23, 2010, dismissed policeman Rolando Mendoza held hostage a busload of Hong Kong tourists in Luneta, in a desperate, misplaced move to have himself reinstated to the police force.
He was earlier dismissed from the ranks over corruption charges.
Eight tourists and the hostage-taker died from the bungled rescue operation which dragged on until early evening and aired on live television here and abroad.
Last year, Estrada issued an apology to the families of the tourists in his capacity as former president of the country amid the repeated refusal of President Aquino to make a formal apology.
His apology was backed with a resolution that included compensation for the relatives of the tourists.
Estrada's apology resulted to the lifting of sanctions previously imposed by Hong Kong including a black travel alert against the Philippines and the cancelation of a 14-day visa-free access to Hong Kong by Philippine officials.
Estrada said the apology was meant to put a closure on the row between the two governments and for the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers in Hong Kong.