Palace still hoping for audience with China

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is still hoping to get an audience with the Chinese government to present the government’s report on the Aug. 23 hostage crisis amid reports that Beijing was no longer interested to receive it.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also said that a bilateral meeting between President Aquino and Chinese President Hu Jintao on the side of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Hanoi, Vietnam next week was being worked out.

Lacierda said the Department of Foreign Affairs had been in constant touch with the Chinese foreign ministry.

“What’s keeping them is the schedule of the foreign minister,” he said.

But Lacierda said he would not know whether the Chinese government found the report insignificant now since some officials were absolved and only administrative charges would be filed against those involved in the bungled negotiations.

He said the Philippines was still ready to submit the report to China and explain its side.

He had earlier noted that the charges recommended for certain individuals were carefully studied by the Palace legal team that reviewed the report of the incident investigation and review committee led by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.