HONG KONG, Aug. 25 -- The bloody hostage crisis in Manila that left eight Hong Kong tourists dead has generated sorrow and anger in this former British colony as protests grew over the handling of the siege.

Flags on government buildings flew at half-mast in mourning for the victims, who were part of a Hong Kong tour group, and the stock exchange paused for a minute’s silence at the start of yesterday’s trading. The Chinese government also demanded answers from the Philippines and an explanation for its failure to resolve the crisis that led to Monday’s bloodbath.

As Hong Kong residents expressed outrage over the hostage incident, newspapers in the Chinese territory accused the Manila police of incompetence in resolving the standoff. “The Philippines is one of the most chaotic countries in Southeast Asia,” said the Chinese newspaper People’s Daily. “A culture of colonization, autocracy and rapid changes in government has created all sorts of curious grievances in this country.”

Source: www.philstar.com

MANILA, Aug. 25 -- Four strains of dengue virus are circulating in many parts of the country, contributing to the rise in dengue cases this year, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

The presence of the strains was confirmed in the blood samples collected from dengue patients. “It seems that all the strains are circulating in many parts of the country including the National Capital Region... It’s not the only reason for the increase but it is a factor,” said Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, DOH program manager for Dengue Control Program.

He said that if all four strains of dengue-types 1, 2, 3, and 4- are circulating, a person who recovered from one type of dengue virus is not immune to other types. Seventy percent of the patients infected were aged one to 20 years old. The oldest infected was 95.

Source: www.philstar.com

MANILA, Aug. 25 -- The Manila Police District (MPD) on Tuesday identified the eight Hong Kong nationals who were slain by their captor - a dismissed policeman - in the almost 11-hour hostage-taking incident inside a tourist bus at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park on Monday.

Hostage-taker, dismissed Sr. Insp. Rolando Mendoza, was also killed by a Manila police sniper, after he herded his victims in a portion of the bus and shot them. Police identified the slain hostage-victims as Hong Kong residents Tse Ting Chung Masa, between 30 and 35-years-old; Fu Cheuk Yan, 39; Leung Songyi, 16, alias “Jessie;” and Leung Yee Kam, 46. They were declared dead on arrival at the Manila Doctors Hospital.

Keon Lung, between 40 and 45 years old and Yeung Yee Wa, 45, died while being taken to the Ospital ng Maynila (OSMA). On the other hand, Wong Tze Lam, 50, was declared dead on arrival at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and Leung Chung See, 20, alias “Doris” was declared dead on arrival at the San Juan De Dios Hospital. The hostage-taker died on the spot due to bullets fired by operatives of the Manila Police District-Special Weapon and Tactics (MPD-SWAT). Now being treated at the Manila Doctors Hospital were Lee Ying Chuen, 36; Lo Kam Fun, 66; Chang Kwok Chu, 46; Leung Jason Song Xen, 13, all Chinese. Police identified another survivor Wong Chek Yu, 13, who was taken to Ospital ng Maynila and Yik Zhu Ling, 32, was rushed to Mother and Child Hospital for treatment and another wounded tourist Nang Ami Yau, between 55 and 60-years-old was taken to Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

Source: www.pna.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has called on the media to come up with “self-policing mechanisms” in covering crisis situations like the one last Monday so as not to contribute to tension and hamper police operations.

“If we ordered a news blackout, you’d tell us that we were guilty of censoring you a priori which is frowned upon by the Constitution,” he said. “We cannot censor you for things that you have yet to do, right? And we did vow transparency.”

Mr. Aquino said the hostage crisis would give way to the possibility of further refining the rules in covering delicate incidents. Mr. Aquino said the positioning and all the movements of the police were provided to Mendoza through live coverage of the incident. “To a certain degree he might have had a bird’s eye view of the entire situation, which does not help the security forces in carrying out the mission,” he said.

Source: www.philstar.com