Hostage inquest blames officials
Source: Agencies |
March 24, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AN inquest in Hong Kong concluded yesterday that Philippine officials contributed to or caused the deaths of eight tourists who were held hostage in Manila and gunned down by a disgruntled former police officer.
A jury at Hong Kong's coroner's court faulted Philippine authorities for not meeting the hostage-taker's demands quickly enough and lying to him. The jury said the bungled rescue operation also delayed medical treatment for two victims who might have been saved.
The panel also found, after a 28-day hearing, that Philippine officials aggravated tense negotiations by failing to block media coverage of the gunman's brother's arrest, which outraged him. They also failed to collect intelligence from released hostages and didn't dim the lighting around the seized tour bus, giving the gunman a good view of the police attack, according to the jury.
The eight deaths shocked this wealthy southern Chinese financial hub, where violent crime is rare.
A Philippine government investigation found that top officials overseeing the hostage situation were negligent, but President Benigno Aquino III chose disciplinary action instead of criminal prosecution, angering survivors and the victims' families in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong people put their hopes in their local investigation instead, hoping it would more clearly assign blame.
The Hong Kong inquest's findings, however, do not imply civil or criminal liability, but were merely to establish facts.
Tse Chi-kin, the older brother of slain tour guide Masa Tse, said he was pleased the Hong Kong inquest held the Philippine government accountable. Masa Tse was one of the two victims the jury thought was denied timely medical treatment that could have saved his life.
"We welcome the verdict," Tse said, adding that the family was considering civil action against Philippines officials.
Philippine Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said the Hong Kong findings were similar to Philippine ones.
A jury at Hong Kong's coroner's court faulted Philippine authorities for not meeting the hostage-taker's demands quickly enough and lying to him. The jury said the bungled rescue operation also delayed medical treatment for two victims who might have been saved.
The panel also found, after a 28-day hearing, that Philippine officials aggravated tense negotiations by failing to block media coverage of the gunman's brother's arrest, which outraged him. They also failed to collect intelligence from released hostages and didn't dim the lighting around the seized tour bus, giving the gunman a good view of the police attack, according to the jury.
The eight deaths shocked this wealthy southern Chinese financial hub, where violent crime is rare.
A Philippine government investigation found that top officials overseeing the hostage situation were negligent, but President Benigno Aquino III chose disciplinary action instead of criminal prosecution, angering survivors and the victims' families in Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong people put their hopes in their local investigation instead, hoping it would more clearly assign blame.
The Hong Kong inquest's findings, however, do not imply civil or criminal liability, but were merely to establish facts.
Tse Chi-kin, the older brother of slain tour guide Masa Tse, said he was pleased the Hong Kong inquest held the Philippine government accountable. Masa Tse was one of the two victims the jury thought was denied timely medical treatment that could have saved his life.
"We welcome the verdict," Tse said, adding that the family was considering civil action against Philippines officials.
Philippine Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said the Hong Kong findings were similar to Philippine ones.
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