3 senators support Aquino’s refusal to apologize to Hong Kong

By: Maila Ager - 11 years ago

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – At least three senators, including an opposition member, are behind President Benigno Aquino’s decision not to apologize for the 2010 hostage-taking in Manila that left eight Hong Kong nationals dead with one legislator saying the government should not “succumb to threats.”

Starting Wednesday (February 5), Philippine officials holding diplomatic passports will be required to get a visa before entering Hong Kong. The new visa requirement is being imposed following the President’s continued refusal to issue an apology to Hong Kong.

“The President should not apologize in the same manner that China did not apologize for the death Filipino tourists,” Senate President Franklin Drilon told reporters on Wednesday.

“The apologies have been made below the President’s level so I don’t see the need for an apology. The victims have been compensated and I don’t believe that an apology is called for,” Drilon added.

Neophyte Senator Juan Edgardo Angara, who belongs to the majority bloc in the Senate, was fully behind the President’s decision not to say sorry to Hong Kong, saying the government should not succumb to threats.

‘Yes, I don’t think we should succumb to threats. We’ve already expressed regret over the incident. There are other ways to repair relations. You shouldn’t do it under the barrel of a threat,” Angara said in a separate interview.

He pointed out that an apology of a normal person was different from an apology of the head of the state.

“May implications ‘yon. I’m sure the President carefully thought it out,” said Angara.

Asked if he would now prefer to go to other countries that are more welcoming to Filipinos instead of Hong Kong which now requires Philippine officials holding diplomatic passports to get a visa, Angara said: “Yes, of course. Something like that doesn’t make you feel welcome. Definitely. It’s not a welcome gesture.”

Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, a member of the minority bloc, also saw no reason for the President to apologize to Hong Kong, saying it was not the national government that was involved in the hostage-taking

“Actually, tama naman si Presidente. Hindi naman act of the state ang nangyari. It is an act of a lone deranged person who was acting by himself,” Estrada said.

“Hindi naman involved ang national government doon. If it involves the national government, then I think it is but proper for the President to apologize. But if it does not involve the national government, I don’t think the President is obliged to apologize,” he added.

Since the incident happened in the City of Manila, Senator Estrada said it should be the local government that should assume responsibility over the deaths of the victims.

His father, Joseph Estrada, is the incumbent mayor of the city.

“My father is willing to apologize anytime. He is willing to go to Hong Kong to talk to the authorities in Hong Kong to apologize for what happened in behalf of the City of Manila, not in behalf of the national government,” said the senator.

“So I think it is not necessary for the President to apologize to the Hong Kong authorities. I think the apology of the incumbent mayor of the City of Manila is most acceptable, that is in my own opinion. Kasi nangyari sa Maynila ang insidente, and I think it was the former officials of the City of Manila na nagkamali. They messed up the whole thing,” he added, apparently referring to the leadership of then Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

But Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. did not agree with the government’s continued refusal to issue an apology over the hostage-taking incident.

“Hindi, I would rather be humble and apologize,” said Sotto, an opposition member, when asked if he supports Aquino’s position.

“Talaga naman na sumabit tayo. It was not handled properly. There were many Hong Kong citizens who died. Ano’ng masama sa mag-apologize?”

“Tama ba ang mataas ang pride? Masama yun, pride is the head of Satan…” Sotto added.

Marcos said he could not understand why the President could not say sorry without admitting any liability.

“It doesn’t mean that we are admitting to any kind of liability of that kind. It is just an acknowledgement of the fact that there is a terrible tragedy that happened in the Philippines against Hong Kong nationals. That’s the way I see it,’ m he said.

“Iniimbita natin ang mga turista, sinasabi natin sa kanila pumunta kayo rito, bumisita kayo sa Pilipinas tapos ganito ang nangyari. They are guests in our country and this terrible thing happened to them. So I don’t see what is the harm in apologizing.”

“As I have said before, I find the position that the Philippine government has taken not to say sorry, a little hard to understand. It would be such a simple thing to do, it would not cost the government anything…” Marcos added.