The survivors and relatives of those Hong Kong tourists who died in last year's Manila hostage tragedy are expected to arrive in the Philippine capital tomorrow (local time) to mark the first anniversary of the incident. While in Manila, the relatives and survivors are to hold a press conference on Monday before marking the first anniversary of the tragedy on Tuesday.
COMMENT: The group is also expected to meet with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who will represent the Philippine government. Manila is to hold a ceremony at the site of the bloody hostage drama on August 23, 2010. Eight Hong Kong tourists who were visiting Manila at the time were taken hostage by Filipino police inspector, Rolando Mendoza, who had been dismissed from the national police for cause. Mendoza held the tourists at gunpoint during an eleven-hour hostage barricade situation, strangely hoping that he would be reinstated. A botched police rescue attempt caused him to open fire on the hostages before he was killed by police.
The incident prompted Hong Kong to impose a “black" travel advisory discouraging all travel to the Philippines by its residents, which remains.
COMMENT: The group is also expected to meet with Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who will represent the Philippine government. Manila is to hold a ceremony at the site of the bloody hostage drama on August 23, 2010. Eight Hong Kong tourists who were visiting Manila at the time were taken hostage by Filipino police inspector, Rolando Mendoza, who had been dismissed from the national police for cause. Mendoza held the tourists at gunpoint during an eleven-hour hostage barricade situation, strangely hoping that he would be reinstated. A botched police rescue attempt caused him to open fire on the hostages before he was killed by police.
The incident prompted Hong Kong to impose a “black" travel advisory discouraging all travel to the Philippines by its residents, which remains.
