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
MANILA, Philippines – While President Benigno Aquino III “deeply regretted” last year’s Manila bus hostage drama in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed, he said Tuesday there was no need for the country to apologize for it.
“The apology connotes that the state did them grievous harm. I don’t think that is correct,” the President told reporters. “This was the act of one man. [By] the same token that some of our citizens have been affected elsewhere in the world, we do not blame the entire population. We know that there are criminal elements, there are mentally deranged individuals that pose a threat to anybody regardless of race or country of origin.”
The President spoke to reporters after touring the biggest warship acquired by the Philippine Navy at the Manila South Harabor’s Pier 13. The conversation shifted to the the visit here of a Hong Kong delegation observing the first anniversary of the deadly siege on a hijacked tourist bus in front of the Quirino Granstand at Manila’s Rizal Park.
Aquino said his government had met at least two demands – compensation and justice –of the families of the victims, who are here for a visit and to seek an apology from the government.
“Number one, we sympathize and we continue to sympathize with them. We really wish it did not happen, we hoped we had performed better at that time, he said. “But by the same token that in Norway there was this tragedy that could not be prevented because of a lone, solitary deranged gunman – so can we really be faulted? You know, there was such a rapid turn of events…”
He noted that there was testimony during the inquiry made by the Incident Investigation and Review Committee that “all of the victims had been shot before our forces even moved against them.”
“We understand their hurt, but hopefully, they understand also that we could’ve improved, and we have been improving from then to now – but at the same time, even at our levels right now, if we have a deranged individual who suddenly changes position, practically on a whim, there are very serious limitations as what one person or any country can do,” the Chief Executive said.
“We have tried to assist them to overcome this tragedy. I think they are aware of the fact that both public and private concerns from this country have really tried to assist them in their moving on,” he said.