MANILA, Philippines - Three Hong Kong journalists reportedly shouted at President Benigno Aquino III at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
Hong Kong's The Standard said in a report on Monday that APEC staff confiscated the three reporters' coverage permit after they threw "rude" questions at Aquino over the 2010 hostage crisis.
"Sir, will you meet CY Leung?" a male reporter asked. "Why don't you respond to the Hong Kong officials?"
"Will you apologize? Please answer the question!" another asked.
Aquino was said to be walking into a conference room when the reporters from RTHK, Commercial Radio and Now TV shouted out their questions.
The report said Aquino ignored the questions and just walked away.
Some APEC staff, meanwhile, pulled out the three reporters and berated them for the gesture, the report added.
"Don't you have any decency? Don't you know it's rude to shout? ... You have no decency. Now get out! You have embarrassed one of our visitors," said The Standard quoting the APEC staff..
The Hong Kong Journalists Association defended the reporters, whom they claim to have shouted "as they are held a long distance from those they want to interview."
In 2010, eight Hong Kong tourists were killed during a hostage taking incident by disgruntled former Manila policeman, Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza.
Enraged by the incident, Hong Kong officials spewed criticisms against Aquino who was caught on television with an apparent smile inspecting the scene of the hostage crisis. He had since apologized for it.
HK reporters 'shout' at PNoy over 2010 hostage mess
President Benigno Aquino III arrives at the Ngurah Rai International Airport to join fellow world leaders attending the 21st Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' Meeting and the APEC CEO Summit in Bali, Indonesia on Sunday, October 6, 2013. GOV.PH PHOTO