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'It's too late': Survivor

Philippine policemen start their assault on the tourist bus full of Hong Kong tourists after an ex-policeman hijacked the bus. -- PHOTO: AFP

HONG KONG - A SURVIVOR of a dramatic hostage siege in the Philippine capital which left eight Hong Kong tourists dead on Monday accused the authorities of acting too late and turning a blind eye to their ordeal.

The Hong Kong woman, who identified herself as Mrs Leung, told reporters that her husband was killed as he tried to stop ex-policeman Rolando Mendoza from attacking other passengers on their tour bus in Manila. Mrs Leung, still in shock as she was carried out from the bus following a 12-hour standoff, demanded to know why Manila police came to their rescue so late.

'It's too late. Why were there no one to help us after so many hours?' she said at the scene of the siege, in comments broadcast on Hong Kong's Cable TV. 'There were so many people on the bus - no one came to our rescue. Why? For money? Sacrificing so many lives for money? We were in fear for so many hours. I find it really cruel.' Mrs Leung said her husband sacrificed himself for others on the bus. 'I actually really wanted to die with him. But I think of my children.' 'I miss him,' she said in tears.

She said she did not know the whereabouts of three children, aged 14, 18, and 21, who were also held on the bus. Doctors took care of another woman, released from the bus by the gunmen with three children, as she was overcome with emotion, wrongly believing that all the hostages had been killed, according to a spokeswoman for the travel company running the trip.

'Because of various sources of information, she had for a while thought that everyone who remained on the bus was killed,' Susanna Lau, general manager of Hong Thai Travel, said. The tragedy began when disgruntled ex-policeman Mendoza, armed with an M-16 assault rifle, hijacked the busload of Hong Kong visitors in Manila's tourist district in a desperate bid to get his job back.

Negotiations broke down after nightfall when the gunman began shooting the passengers, and commandos stormed the bus. Police said Mendoza was shot dead by a sniper after he used his captives as 'human shields' in the final moments of the siege. -- AFP

Hostage crisis in photos [Philippines]

PHILIPPINE security forces stormed a bus packed with Hong Kong tourists on Monday to end a dramatic hostage crisis that unfolded live on global television, leaving eight people and the gunman dead.

Catch the unfolding day-long drama which began when a disgruntled ex-policeman armed with an M-16 assault rifle and dressed in combat pants hijacked the bus in Manila's tourist district in a desperate bid to get his job back, in this special photo gallery.

via Strait times Singapore

China condemns Manila hijack

MANILA - CHINA on Tuesday strongly condemned a Philippine bus hijacking that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead as an 'atrocity', and urged Manila to ensure Chinese citizens are safe.

The Chinese embassy said: 'The Chinese government strongly condemns the atrocity by the hostage-taker, expresses grave condolences to the victimised Hong Kong compatriots and conveys profound sympathy to the bereaved families.'

'The Chinese side has urged the Philippine side to take concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of the Chinese citizens in the Philippines,' it said in a statement.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino said early on Tuesday that he has sent an apology to Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang for what had happened, adding that he has ordered the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs to extend all possible assistance to the victims.

The president made the remarks at a press conference after meeting with police officials and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, reported Xinhua news agency.

Philippine hostage crisis ended here on Monday night with eight hostages were killed, seven injured, one of whom is in critical conditions, Philippine government officials said. -- AFP

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Bloodbath dominates HK media

HONG KONG - LURID photographs of the bloodbath dominated the front pages of the Hong Kong press on Tuesday, with a few Chinese-language newspapers changing their mast-head colour from red to black in mourning.

Editorials echoed the southern Chinese territory's leader in querying the response of Philippine authorities. 'The way it is handled - particularly the outcome - is very disappointing,' Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang told reporters late on Monday.

Newspapers bemoaned missed opportunities to end the siege much earlier, including when the gunman - a disgraced former senior police inspector - had waved from the bus door.

'A large group of police failed to get into the bus after surrounding the vehicle for nearly half an hour,' the Hong Kong Economic Journal said, adding: 'Their appalling professional standards, and the lack of strategic planning, made observers both angry and sad. This tragedy could have been avoided'.

Also noting the length of time it took Manila police commandos to intervene, the Apple Daily said: 'It makes people question the competence of the police.' The Standard said Philippine authorities must be held to account. 'What went so terribly wrong?' the English-language daily said.

'What did the gunman tell police during the negotiations? What was the response from the police? The Hong Kong government must also demand that Manila provide answers for the many questions'. -- AFP