Hong Kong Man Freed After 26 Years in Philippine Jail

Tang Lung-wai was a Hong Kong bartender who flew to the Philippines for a holiday on his 29th birthday. Instead of a vacation, he was arrested for a drug offence he insists he didn't commit. He ended up spending 26 years in a Philippine jail. Now 55, he has finally been freed.

Tang spent years fighting the charges and claiming he was framed. But in an interview with the South China Morning Post, he said he doesn't view those lost decades with bitterness. 'At first, I felt a lot of resentment about being framed like that. But in the end, it's no use holding onto so much resentment,' he said. 'Since you're already in jail and since you cannot change what has already happened, you just have to change yourself to adapt to this environment.'

He described the prison term as 'karma' and said he learned how to be a 'proper human being' while locked up. His story is a reminder of how easily a life can be derailed by a criminal charge—especially in a foreign country where you may not speak the language or understand the legal system. It also shows the human cost of long waits for justice.

For the rest of us, Tang's experience is a cautionary tale about travel and legal risks abroad. It also raises questions about how many others might be in similar situations, waiting for a chance to clear their names. Tang's resilience is inspiring, but the 26 years he lost can never be returned.