Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Flags are flying at half mast throughout the territory to mourn the death of eight tourists in Manila, taken hostage by a former policeman. Travel agents are cancelling all trips to the Philippines, while the government has issued an alert asking all citizens to avoid travel to Manila. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange observed a minute's silence in the morning session.
Hong Thai Travel Agency, which had organized the trip that ended in tragedy, confirmed that eight people were killed, four men and four women aged between 14 and 57 years. The death toll rose to nine (including the author of the abduction), after one of injured tourists died overnight.
Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of Hong Kong has asked the Philippine government to shed light on the episode and criticized the way it was handled. One of the survivors stated that "[the kidnapper] did not want to kill us. He only opened fire after negotiations failed".
Rolando Mendoza, 55, a former policeman, yesterday morning hijacked a bus full of tourists, demanding to be reinstated in the police in exchange for their release. Mendoza was removed by the police in January on charges of extortion and threatening drug dealers.
Later he released six hostages. In the evening, negotiations have failed and according to preliminary reports Mendoza killed two hostages. The police intervened, but the raid lasted over half an hour with continuous bursts of fire.
The Philippine president Benigno Aquino, in a press conference today admitted that there were errors in handling of the hostage taking. He also criticized the radio and television stations reporting on the story. Mendoza was able to even talk directly to a radio.
Even the Philippine tourism minister, Albert Lim, conceded mismanagement but says that "Manila is a safe destination, as well as other parts of the country. This is an uncommon incident, it is not something that happens everyday”.
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also expressed his concern over the violent conclusion of the kidnapping and demanded a full investigation into the incident.