PH won’t apologize amid Hong Kong sanctions – DFA

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 FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines regrets the sanctions imposed by Hong Kong but reiterated that it will not issue a formal apology over the Manila hostage crisis.

“The Philippine Government regrets the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government’s implementation of sanctions against the Philippines,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a press conference Thursday.

“A total renegotiation has been opened by the Hong Kong SAR Government to seek a demand for an apology which the Philippines, as a sovereign nation, is not prepared to consider,” he said.

Hernandez called the sanctions “unfortunate” saying that there was already a “substantive closure” three years ago with the previous government of Hong Kong SAR.

“A renewed appeal for compassion was directly made to our government last October 2013. We responded to this appeal without equivocation and in a most generous manner,” Hernandez said.

“We have been made to understand that the victims and their families have agreed to this offer,” he said.

In August 2010, seven tourists from Hong Kong were killed after former policeman Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus.

Mendoza, along with a Filipino tour guide, was killed in the rescue operation by authorities.

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