Kin of bus hostages sue Philippines, hit Hong Kong gov’t

‘A YEAR AFTER, NO ACTION’. In this file photo taken on August 23, 2010, Philippine policemen take position as they start their attack on a hijacked tourist bus in Manila. AFP PHOTO / FILE / TED ALJIBE

HONG KONG—The families of eight Hong Kong tourists who were killed in a bus hijacking in Manila last year accused Hong Kong authorities on Thursday of not doing enough to help them win compensation from the Philippines.

Relatives rallied outside the city’s legal aid department, calling for the Hong Kong government to fund a lawsuit against the Philippines, almost a year after a bungled rescue attempt sparked a diplomatic meltdown.

Tse Chi-kin, brother of the coach’s tour guide, said the group was applying for legal aid because “I can’t see any action taken by the government”.

The claimants “shouldn’t have to instigate legal proceedings… The government should”, said Hong Kong legislator James To.

As the drama unfolded live on television last August, police officers stormed the bus and shot dead lone gunman Rolando Mendoza, a former policeman who took a tourist bus full of Hong Kong tourists hostage in a desperate bid to be reinstated after losing his job over corruption allegations.

But eight tourists died in the bungled rescue, prompting outrage in Hong Kong, which issued a travel alert for the Philippines, advising citizens at the time not to visit the popular travel destination.

The slain victims’ relatives said they would travel to Manila on Aug. 23 in a bid to talk with Philippine officials about compensation and stiffer penalties for those involved in the rescue effort.

President Aquino came under harsh criticism after he called for only minor charges against authorities, prompting accusations he was protecting friends and political allies.

In Malacañang, Mr. Aquino’s deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government was not surprised at the plan to file a lawsuit as the families had announced it sometime ago.

“If and when the families do decide to file the suit, we will be ready to defend,’’ she said. AFP with Christine Avendaño