Erap says sorry over hostage mess, but no written apology

MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is sorry for the hostage-taking at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park three years ago, but he will not put his apology on paper.

“I am not the one involved... The one who should apologize is my predecessor, not me,” he said, referring to former mayor Alfredo Lim.

Estrada’s apology was first reported in Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post last June.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, the 76-year-old former president said the apology was issued in good faith to let the relatives of the victims know that nobody wanted the hostage-taking incident to happen.

Had that happened during his administration, he would humbly admit the lapses, among them miscalculation on the part of the police, he added.

Eight Chinese tourists died when disgruntled police officer Rolando Mendoza hijacked their bus and took hostage 25 passengers.

After 10 hours of failed negotiations, Mendoza and eight tourists lay dead.

Relatives of the Chinese tourists demanded an official apology but the Philippine government deemed it unnecessary.

A Hong Kong journalist covering the incident’s third-year commemoration said the victims’ relatives are still angry.

“They don’t want his (Estrada’s apology) because he was not involved,” he said. “They are not after the compensation too. What they want is (the President’s) apology.”