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Manila bus hostage crisis remembered
(Updated 12:17 p.m.) Manila officials led by Mayor Joseph Estrada, joined by several Buddhist monks, on Thursday commemorated the fifth anniversary of the Luneta bus hostage crisis with a ceremony, according to a report by Mark Salazar on GMA’s News to Go.
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada makes an offering in a Buddhist ceremony at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Thursday, August 27, in memory of the eight foreign tourists who died there in a botched hostage rescue attempt on August 23, 2010. Danny Pata
Chinese Consul-General to the Philippines Qui Jian also attended the event.
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada (L) confers with Chinese Consul-General to the Philippines Qui Jian on Thursday, August 27, in a ceremony commemorating the eight foreign tourists who died there in a botched hostage rescue attempt on August 23, 2010. Danny Pata
In August 2010, former police officer Rolando Mendoza held 25 Hong Kong tourists hostage in a bus at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta. Eight hostages ended up dead.
The crisis soured the Philippines’ relationship with Hong Kong, a relationship that Estrada claims he mended when he personally visited Hong Kong to apologize.
Estrada is scheduled to go to Beijing at the end of the month to join in the commemoration of the end of World War II.
He said he hopes to strengthen diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, reasoning that since we cannot fight head-on against China, we should instead promote friendship so we can diplomatically address issues such as the dispute over the West Philippine Sea.
A separate report by Athena Imperial on Unang Balita said the parade grounds in front of the Quirino Grandstand will be closed for the program.
Aside from the Buddhist monks, other members of the Chinese community will also be present in the event. —Bea Montenegro/KG/KBK, GMA News
He said he hopes to strengthen diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, reasoning that since we cannot fight head-on against China, we should instead promote friendship so we can diplomatically address issues such as the dispute over the West Philippine Sea.
A separate report by Athena Imperial on Unang Balita said the parade grounds in front of the Quirino Grandstand will be closed for the program.
Aside from the Buddhist monks, other members of the Chinese community will also be present in the event. —Bea Montenegro/KG/KBK, GMA News
