Aquino death revives memories of horrific tour-bus hostage drama

Former Philippine president Benigno Simeon Aquino III, who died in Quezon City of renal failure yesterday, was best remembered by Hongkongers for his refusal to apologize for the 2010 bus hostage crisis in Manila that killed eight Hong Kong tourists and injured seven others.

Known for his anti-corruption campaign with his slogan "If nothing is corrupt, nothing is poor," the 61-year-old "Noynoy" Aquino was the only son of two democracy icons - his assassinated father Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr and former president Corazon "Cory" Aquino, who became president after People Power kicked out dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

Noynoy, who was Philippine president from 2010 to 2016, was rushed to the private Capitol Medical Center near his Times Street residence yesterday. He was declared dead from renal failure.

About two months into Aquino's presidency on August 23, 2010, a former police officer, who was disgruntled at being dismissed from his post, hijacked a tourist bus belonging to Hong Thai Travel with 25 Hongkongers aboard at Rizal Park in Manilla.

The special forces rescue attempt was botched, and the 12-hour incident led to the deaths of eight Hong Kong citizens and injuries to seven people.

Aquino was criticized as he was seen grinning when speaking to the media at the site of the incident. The shy, quiet president later said he was smiling to express his anger.

Aquino repeatedly refused to apologize for the hostage crisis. In September 2010, he claimed a letter sent by the Hong Kong government was insulting.

When meeting with former chief executive Leung Chun-ying at a summit in Indonesia in 2014, Aquino said Filipinos "cannot admit wrongdoing if it's not ours."

"At the end of the day, we submit that the act of one individual should not be construed as the act of the entire nation," Aquino said. "And when I apologize, then I am apologizing on behalf of the sin visited by the entire country on these Hong Kong residents, and I don't think that is appropriate at this time."

Pinky Aquino Abellada, one of four surviving sisters, said he died due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.

Many Filipinos took pride in Aquino - an economist and a bachelor. During his six-year term, annual economic growth averaged more than 6 percent, the highest since the 1970s.

Noynoy's father, a senator who opposed the rule of Marcos, was assassinated in 1983 on returning home from exile in the United States.

The killing helped propel Marcos out of office in the 1986 "People Power" revolution.

In 1987, while his mother was president, military rebels attacked the presidential residence at Malacanang Palace in Manila, and the young Noynoy Aquino narrowly escaped death.

Three of his escorts were killed, and he was hit by five bullets - one of which is still embedded in his neck.

His mother, who died in August 2009, ruled as president from 1986 until 1992.