Charges against officials over botched Philippines hostage rescue likely

Philippine President Benigno Aquino says a panel has recommended charges against top officials over the hostage taking in Manila that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead. He says they are a former national police chief and other senior police officials, an undersecretary of the interior, Manila's mayor and three major broadcasting networks.

His office says the report will be shared with the Chinese government as a matter of courtesy. Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, led a five-member inquiry panel that questioned police and civilian officials, the bus driver, the negotiator and other participants. Meanwhile, the Philippines will cancel its tourism marketing for Hong Kong. Hong Kong's government has warned against all visits to the Philippines, in the wake of the hijacking by a sacked police officer.

The Philippines Tourism Secretary says while tourists from Hong Kong and China make up 9 per cent of visitors to the Philippines, marketing to them at this stage would be wrong. He said the government will instead focus on other markets like South Korea, the United States and Japan, who have continued to visit despite the negative publicity.

Sourced=radioaustralianews