PRESIDENT AQUINO ADMITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR BUS MASSACRE

"At the end of the day, I am responsible for everything that has transpired," Aquino said, but he did not apologise despite demands from Hong Kong lawmakers on Thursday that the Philippine government must apologise and pay compensation to the families of eight Hong Kong tourists who were killed in a botched rescue operation at Manila's Luneta Park.

MANILA, Philipine - President Benigno Aquino has admitted responsibility for the hostage tragedy that resulted in the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists and a Filipino hostage taker in Manila's tourist district on August 23, an incident that has soured China-Philippine ties.

• Aquino's admission of responsibility came as civilian leaders and police officers were investigated by the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC), an agency that began on Friday a three-day marathon probe on the hostage taking incident.
• Aquino's admission also came after Senator Francis Escudero said that Aquino's appointee, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, might not be confirmed by the influential Commission on Appointments.
• Robredo has jurisdiction over the National Police Commission and local government units.
• Since after the tragedy, Aquino has been shielding Robredo from being blamed for the hostage tragedy.
• Aquino said he expected the official inquiry into the carnage to conclude next week, and has promised to provide a copy of the report to the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
• He pledged to do all he could to prevent any repetition of the bloodshed.
• "By next week... I hope we can demonstrate the capacity of our security forces in securing the people," Aquino said.
• The deaths, after a 12-hour ordeal broadcast live on television around the world, triggered outrage in Hong Kong over the mishandling of the crisis.
• Meanwhile, the government is considering paying compensation to families of eight Hong Kong tourists who were killed when their bus was hijacked by a sacked policeman, an official said yesterday.
• The Chinese and Hong Kong governments have demanded an exhaustive inquiry into the August 23 blood-bath in Manila, while the Hong Kong legislature on Thursday passed a non-binding resolution demanding Manila apologise and pay compensation.

As the official inquiry continues, Aquino formed a cabinet-level committee to look into possible indemnity for the victims, said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, a member of the committee.
"I don't think the issue here is compensation alone. What is important is to be able to show solidarity. We understand what happened. We are sympathetic to them," Abad said. He would not give an amount or timetable for giving compensation.

Source: AFP