CONFUSION surrounded a visit by a delegation of senior Philippine officials yesterday, which was set up in a bid to defuse a row between Hong Kong and the Philippines over a 2010 Manila hostage tragedy and discuss compensation and an apology to victims’ families.

    It was announced Monday that a delegation of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, Jose Rene Almendras, secretary to President Benigno Aquino’s cabinet, and Philippine National Police director general Alan Purisima would arrive in the city yesterday for meetings.

    However, Estrada arrived with Manila city councillor Bernardito Ang at the Hong Kong International Airport yesterday. There was no sign of Almendras or Purisima.

    Sources in Manila, who only spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to say why the delegation did not travel together, as earlier announced. It is not known when they plan to travel to Hong Kong.

    They left the airport’s VIP complex in a security motorcade without speaking to journalists waiting at the exit.

    The group is expected to meet Hong Kong officials and a group of family members of victims during his stay.

    Seven Hong Kong tourists and their guide were killed after being taken hostage by a sacked policeman on board their coach in Manila on Aug. 23, 2010.

    The Hong Kong government has canceled visa-free access for Philippine diplomats and officials in an economic sanction to pressure Manila to address demands by survivors and relatives. They are seeking a formal apology, compensation, punishment of responsible officials and better tourist safety from the Philippine Government. (SD-Agencies)