Manila still safe for tourists despite hostage-taking - Moreno

MANILA, Philippines - Despite Monday’s hostage-taking incident, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno said yesterday morning that Manila is still generally a safe place for tourists.

Moreno told reporters that the hostage-taking of a bus filled with Hong Kong tourists, with eight of them killed by hostage-taker dismissed policeman Reynaldo Mendoza, “was an isolated case that can happen anywhere in the world.”

“Manila, generally, is still a peaceful city. We welcome you,” he said.

Moreno also defended the Manila Police District (MPD), which has been highly criticized for the poor way its police officers handled the hostage incident.

Moreno said during the early stages of the hostage crisis, which started at 10 a.m. and lasted until past 9 p.m., Manila policemen were able to handle the situation well. “Credit should be given to the Manila police,” he added.

Moreno arrived at the Manila Pavilion Hotel at around lunchtime yesterday to meet with officials from Hong Kong. He said that if he is asked, “I will tell them everything. I do not have anything to hide.”