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Relatives of Killed Chinese Hostages Leave for China
Family members of two Chinese hostages who were killed in an encounter between their captors and the military in the southern Philippines left Manila for China Friday morning.
Holding the boxed cremains of Zhang Zhongqiang and Xue Xing, the family members boarded a China Southern Airlines aircraft, and were seen off by Chinese Embassy officials.
The family members of Zhang and Xue arrived in Manila before a memorial service for their beloved ones and the cremations were held on Tuesday.
They were received by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo in the Presidential Palace Thursday evening.
During a brief meeting at the presidential palace, Arroyo condoled with the family members of Zhang and Xue, and expressed regret over the tragedy.
Zhang and Xue, employees of a Chinese company working on an irrigation project in southern Philippines, were killed in the encounter in Sultan Kudarat province on August 19.
A third Chinese national, Wang Shengli, managed to escape and was recovered by the military, while the fourth, Zhang's brother Zhang Zhongyi, and a local Filipino Chinese businessman, Edwin lim, remain in the hands of the kidnappers.
Chinese Ambassador Wang Chungui, who was present at the meeting Thursday evening, renewed China's demand that the Philippine government take all appropriate measures to have the remaining Chinese hostage safely released as soon as possible.
The ambassador also requested a written explanation of the incident.
Arroyo said she will instruct departments concerned to try their best to secure the safe release of the remaining Chinese hostage, and she promised that the Philippine government will provide a written explanation of the incident to the Chinese government through diplomatic channel.
She also said her administration would consider providing pension for the families of the killed hostages.
Zhang Zhongyi, Xue, Wang, together with Lim, were seized by the kidnappers on August 12 while trying to secure the release of Zhang Zhongqiang, who was kidnapped on June 20.
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