Families of Manila hostage crisis victims need closure, above all

The death of eight Hong Kong citizens during a botched hostage rescue in Manila three years ago was a tragedy. What is happening now is fast turning to farce.

Let us be clear about the facts. The hostages were shot and killed (some others were injured) by an ex-police officer, possibly high on drugs, who was protesting against his dismissal. Prime responsibility must rest on his shoulders, and his alone, because he pulled the trigger.

The fact that the situation deteriorated to the point that the now deceased gunman opened fire owes much to the incompetence of a number of Philippine officials subsequently identified in an official inquiry report. They fully deserve the criticism heaped upon them, and the disciplinary action taken against some of them. They have been exposed as professionally inept, though not responsible in a narrow criminal sense.

In the immediate aftermath, a senior Philippine national figure should have made a full and sincere expression of regret. However, most seemed to be too busy denying their own role in the rescue fiasco.

Contrast the Manila situation with what has just happened off the coast of Lampedusa, in Italy, where over 300 illegal immigrants from Africa drowned after their boat capsized.

No official was in any way to blame for the tragedy but the Italian prime minister was nevertheless so shocked by the loss of life that he has arranged a state funeral. The local mayor wept openly, as well might we all.

So where does this leave us three years on from our own incident? Some relatives of the deceased seem to have set their hearts on a full formal public apology from President Benigno Aquino. They have been encouraged in this approach by some of our lawmakers.