MANILA, Philippines ? (UPDATE) President Benigno Aquino III may have assumed responsibility for the bungled attempt to rescue Hong Kong tourists held hostage on a bus in Manila?s Rizal Park last August 23 but the Chief Executive will not resign over the matter, Malacañang said on Saturday.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said Mr. Aquino?s assumption of responsibility over the entire affair did not mean officials involved in the bungled police operation had been cleared of their accountability.

?He will not resign because he received a clear mandate. He has a clear mandate from more than 15 million Filipinos and he will serve this mandate,? Coloma said on radio. ?He will complete the six-year term as President.?

Coloma indicated that the investigation to find out which officials could be held to account for what has become an international incident continues to be relevant despite Mr. Aquino?s assumption of responsibility.

?The other officials have not been absolved. The President is simply emphasizing that he is accountable to the people that elected him. That?s the context of that statement," Coloma added.

Coloma also indicated that there would be no new apology from Mr. Aquino to Hong Kong for the tragedy because, Coloma said, the President already apologized to Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang and the region?s leader accepted that apology.

Coloma made remarks in light of a demand by Hong Kong lawmakers that Mr. Aquino issue a public apology for the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists in the Quirino Granstand fiasco.

?President Aquino has apologized and this has been acknowledged by Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang,? Coloma said.

?I personally saw the statement of Chief Executive Tsang. This was a video clip wherein he acknowledged that President Aquino called him up, offered apologies and that he accepted the apology,? he added.

Clarifying news reports that President Aquino was taking over the reins of the PNP, Coloma said that as Chief Executive ?the President has the power of control and supervision over all departments and agencies in the executive branch including the Philippine National Police.?

?He did not bypass or override and is not bypassing or overriding the powers of the National Police Commission or the Napolcom. When he said he is taking control of the PNP, it is within this context of the exercise of his Chief Executive powers,? Coloma said.

?That is the context of his statement. Whenever he says it or does it, he is exercising his Chief Executive powers. In exercising that power, he is not removing any power or any authority from his subordinates. It is only in the proper exercise of his Chief Executive powers,? he added.