The Palace said concerned government agencies were conducting stress debriefing for the freed hostages of the hostage situation in Manila.

Ramon "Ricky" Carandang, Secretary of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office in a statement said Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman were the ones in-charge for the stress debriefing.

Carandang said the freed hostages have been brought back to their hotel and being provided food and accomodations.

"They are doing everything they can to help them cope with the stressful situation and make the remainder of their stay as comfortable as possible," Carandang said referring to the freed hostages who were mostly Hong Kong nationals.

Newsmen are still waiting for a statement from the Palace as of this writing.

Manila hostage-taking updates

See also:

• Palace meets with PNP on hostage drama
• Chinese Embassy to RP: ensure safety of hostage survivors
• Gunman killed; gov't gains control of bus
• Gov't debriefing hostages
• Manila hostage-taking over
• Philippine hostage crisis ends with several hostages alive
• Hostages at Rizal Park
• Hostage-taker a decorated cop with 17 medals
• Mendoza an 'honest' policeman
• Hostage-taker dismissed due to alleged extortion
• Hostage-taker just wants to be reinstated
• 8 passengers released from tourist bus hijacked in Manila
• 7 released in bus hostage taking
• Ex-policeman in Philippines holds tourists hostage