Philippine leader defends actions on bus hostage-taking

Oct 14, 2010, 8:24 GMT

Manila - Philippine President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday defended his decision to file only minor disciplinary charges against officials involved in a bus hostage crisis that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead in August.

Aquino noted that based on Philippine laws, four police officials and Manila City Mayor Alfredo Lim could only face administrative charges for the bungling of the August 23 standoff.

'We believe that this is the proper course of action and (these charges) will be the ones that will prosper,' he told reporters.

Aquino stressed that he has no plans to change any of his directives just to appease China and Hong Kong, which have expressed disappointment over the outcome of the investigation.

'The only thing we can do is explain exactly how the decision was arrived at, what are the limitations we have under our system of governance and our laws,' he said.

'This is not whimsical,' he added. 'We had a review of pertinent laws.'

Aquino also denied protecting a close friend, Interior Secretary Rico Puno, who was initially included in a list of officials recommended to face sanctions.

The August 23 crisis began when dismissed police officer Rolando Del Rosario Mendoza seized a tour bus carrying 25 people, mostly Hong Kong tourists, in a seaside park in Manila a bid to get his job back.

Mendoza initially freed nine hostages following negotiations, but the crisis deteriorated when he began shooting at his captives late into the standoff after failing to get his demands fulfilled and seeing his brother arrested for alleged conspiracy.

Eight of the remaining 15 hostages were killed by Mendoza, according to the investigation report. The hostage-taker was also killed when police assaulted the bus.

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