Erap: Hong Kong assured OFWs will be protected

MANILA, Philippines — Former president and now Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada said the strained relations between the Philippines and Hong Kong are now back to normal since his apology over the hostage tragedy in 2010 has been accepted by officials there.

In a phone-patch interview on ANC, Estrada described the result of his efforts as a "very, very fruitful and successful resolution of the case."

"I apologized to them (Hong Kong officials) in behalf of the city council, myself as mayor, and the people of Manila over that unfortunate incident," Estrada told ANC.

Estrada said with the resolution of the tragedy, Hong Kong's black travel alert against the Philippines has been downgraded to amber.

The Manila mayor said he was also told by Hong Kong officials that the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) there will be guaranteed

"They assured me that even all our OFWs here in Hong Kong will be protected," Estrada said.

In response, Estrada said all Hong Kong tourists and businessmen in Manila will be ensured under his watch as city mayor.

"Gagawin namin ang lahat ng magagawa... all Hong Kong tourists will be protected, not only in Manila but in the whole country," Estrada said.

The former president said he told the Hong Kong government is a joint effort by the Manila government and the national government as represented by Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras.

Estrada flew to Hong Kong on Tuesday to apologize to the families of eight Hong Kong tourists who were killed in a mishandled hostage taking in 2010.

He earlier told ANC that he will also offer some sort of compensation worth around 20 million Hong Kong dollars or over P110 million for the victims of the tragedy.

Read: Erap, Cabinet exec off to HK to apologize for Manila hostage crisis