It was just later this afternoon that I first heard of the hostage crisis involving Ronaldo Mendoza, a former police officer, and a couple of foreigners inside a tourist bus. The way the story was handed out to the press, it seemed like everything was harmless and calm, maybe because of the fact that the hostage taker is a comrade.
At first everything seemed to be flowing smoothly. In fact, the hostages were given food and the bus was supplied with fuel just so the air conditioning of the bus would not be disrupted. Kids and some of the elder hostages were also freed not later this morning.
Things started to get complicated for as I got home, some of Mendoza’s relatives were being seized by the police, I think in the efforts of getting the hostage taker’s attention. It was believed that he is watching the news on TV while inside the bus.
True to that, just a few moments later, there were gunshots heard from the inside of the bus. And then the camera was focused to the driver of the bus who was handcuffed into the steering wheel. A few more moments later, the driver miraculously got out of the window and ran hysterically shouting that everyone else inside is dead.
That’s when the “mighty” law enforcers surrounded the bus and “tried” to get Mendoza in “every way possible”. Just like that, the hostage drama became a hostage comedy. Some of the police tried to shatter the glass door and windows of the bus and candidly, one of them threw the axe inside the bus not just once, but twice. It really looked stupid.
After a gazillion hours later, they have smashed the door down and a sniper FINALLY got Mendoza down. When it was confirmed that Mendoza is dead, some of the hostages that were still alive inside went out shaking, crying and traumatized by the situation. I feel sad for them. It almost made me cry. Later on, a report was released saying that at least eight hostages held for 10 hours appear to have survived the incident.
PERSONALLY...
Now, there are a lot of major concerns constituted at the course of this unfortunate event. First is the lack of a strategic plan coming from the police force. WHOEVER is in charge in this incident should be sacked. The police force, our police force, looked downright stupid and unprepared as they set off to try to put Mendoza down. The fact that it took them ten whopping hours to get this job done is already a manifestation of how disorganized they were.
They have strategized of getting the attention of the hostage taker by publicly assaulting his relatives without even realizing that it could result an adverse effect to the inconvenience of the hostages. And yes it did.
MEDIA. I think the best way that the media should have contributed is by shutting their selves out of the situation. What the situation calls for is a news blackout. Being a Journalism graduate myself, I know how important it is to get the facts straight ahead, plus the raging competition that looms between new agencies. But this is a different situation. There was a time that Mendoza aimed a series of gunshots at the media men, which I think is a way for him to cause a diversion. He wanted the police to split their attention as we all know that media men are hard to shoo away from a high profile case like this.
As I’ve said, there were gunshots aimed at the media men present within the vicinity of the hostage area, and it is said that a civilian was hit by one of these gunshots. These bystanders never learn. I think it is really in our nature to pry on every controversy even if it can put us into harm. Just like what happened when Mendoza was confirmed dead. A swarm of “usiseros” rushed into the scene and blocked the way of the hostages getting out of the bus. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it is a form of obstruction of justice, when someone else just comes into the middle of a police operation. The rescue of the hostages is still considered as a part of the police operation, so everyone, including the media men who rushed into the bus, should have been arrested. The scene of the crime has not been cleared yet, what if a grenade was set somewhere there and someone accidentally kicked it. It will become a greater threat to MORE lives.
In line with that, I was intrigued by the fact that none of the local officials of Manila were there to assist the police of securing the vicinity of the crime scene against bystanders, because as I’ve said, it is a great threat to them. I don’t know about all of these, and these are just my opinion.
LASTLY...
That being said, I know that the Philippines is now in the brink of a tourism breakdown. But I hope that everyone will understand that this incident is in the discretion of just one man. Overall judgment of how Filipinos are should not be reflected on one man’s act. It is unacceptable that he has claimed the lives of innocent people just for his personal claims, but this is life. It just happened that bad decisions were made this day. It was a bad decision that he went aboard the bus and took everyone hostage. It was a bad decision that the police weren’t able to shut down the situation earlier as possible without having anyone get hurt in the process.
Let us not let this situation bring us down. I suggest that we better take this opportunity to make out a better citizen in us who would wisely make better decisions in the future.
Heads up, Philippines!
*DISCLAIMER: This is my personal account on the hostage crisis. Get the facts straight here.
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