Manila mayor flies to Hong Kong to apologize to victims’ families in bus hostage tragedy

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on a visit to the Pentagon, (Wikipedia photo)

MANILA, Philippines – The mayor of the Philippine capital says he is flying to Hong Kong to apologize to the family of eight Hong Kong tourists who died in a 2010 bus hostage tragedy in Manila and to offer them compensation.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said Tuesday that a top aide of President Benigno Aquino III and the national police chief are joining him.

They hope to meet with Hong Kong’s chief executive Leung Chun-ying.

Speaking to ABS-CBN News Channel while en route to the airport, Estrada said the trip was a joint effort of the national government and Manila city. He says Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras and Philippine National Police chief Alan Purisima will represent Aquino and the national government.

Relations have soured over the Philippines’ bungled rescue of the tourists.