For the first time in travel history, Hong Kong issued a travel ban against the Philippines. Hong Kong security bureau issued an OTA ( Outbound Travel Alert) declaring a total ban on travels of Hong Kong Residents to the RP. (see http://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota/index.htm)
The cause: A hostage taking crisis that occurred somewhere in the heart of Manila, Philippines. Unfortunately, while spending the last day of their supposed-to-be-marvelous Manila tour, tourists from Hong Kong were abducted inside their tour bus (Hong Thai Travel and Tours). The culprit: Police Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza, dismissed member of Manila Police District (MPD).
In my entire blog life, I haven't felt any urge to write anything about news especially the negative ones. But with this bus hostage taking crisis, I cannot help but speak. In my own opinion, a plain bus overtaking drama went wrong, flopped, and worsen because of three things: 1. tooooooo much MEDIA 2. tooooo much wasted time 3. soooo little SOLID PLAN.
Yes at the middle of the hostage taking, MEDIA was requested by Mendoza. But I am sure, he didn't request for a LIVE SIMULTANEOUS COVERAGE of what he's planning to do. He just needed them for message conveying purposes. It was confirmed that indeed Mendoza asked the driver to turn on the TV. Not to mention, he had with him a radio and a mobile phone. Of course, he is updated all through out. He can even watch the latest view of the outside from the TV inside. Why bombard him with news like, Inspector Mendoza's brother was being arrested. But he resisted. Yes the whole family is here. They are crying and so on?.. WRONG. That made him agitated. And who knows, what he did to one of the hostages just to get even. And in the middle of the hostage taking, didn't they realize that while reporting each and every move of the assault team, they were also reporting to Mr. Hostage Taker? Giving him hints as to where the SWAT are heading, what's seems to be their next plan and what part of the bus they are going to break. URGHH! I believe in instances like these, MEDIA BLACKOUT is a standard operating procedure. What happened was, the reporters and photographers arrived even before other police mobile back up and medics did. I hope MBO was declared. Even CNN asked why the media are allowed to cover the hostage taking. Ironic, that while they were having a high rating, the chances of survival of the hostages were getting low.
Shooting the bus' wheels is ok. But I'm sure it's unauthorized. That only made the hostage taker panicked. And again, who knows, he shot one of the hostages by the distraction of that gunshot. Breaking the door didn't do much but give him more time to think. They all concentrated on the idea of hitting the front door using a sledgehammer, instead of using other alternatives to easily open it. They even used a poor local bus as "lab rat" to study how to break a bus door. And their last resort was to just pull it using a rope, the same moment that they thought of breaking the emergency door beside the bus. One policeman tossed a teargas but to no avail, it didn't activate. FAIL. For I guess, second time it was successful but was it safe for the hostages in a closed place like that? I have no idea.
It took almost half of a day. And it made me so sad, that they laid their best plan during the time when they can vaguely see a single movement inside the bus. Yes brave policemen were there, not before a series of shots were made by Mendoza. And just like watching an action scene from a telenovela, policemen looked unprepared. One was even shot while trying to penetrate a part of the bus. They didn’t look like they have one same plan in mind. I know it's not easy to be placed in such situation, but SWAT was not that geared up.
The bus driver, who managed to escape from the crisis, told the police and the media that everyone in the bus was dead. An Information that led them somewhere - in a wrong direction. I am sure that the assault team underwent to proper tactical trainings, but with this incident, it was clear that the policemen lack of coordination, one of the assault police didn’t even wear protective uniform. They were poorly equipped, poorly trained. The scene was not barricaded with a police line. If the hostage taker survived, I am sure that by the time the crowd surrounded the bus, he could just casually escaped without anyone noticing him. It is very noticeable; PNP was not that ready to handle the situation. They even mishandled Mendoza’s family, they arrested them by force. Such brutal end wouldn't have happened if the police made the right move.
Mendoza’s case is another story to tell. What he did is perfectly wrong. He even admitted that he made a very wrong decision. Who are we to judge him, to judge the media men or the PNP and SWAT? With all due respect with reporters and policemen, I believe that with all your heart you did you job. We are equally responsible for the outcome. No one’s to blame for what has happened. I just hope that this will serve as a mind opener to our new government. Yes this is an isolated case, and anything that that took place can happen to anyone, and doesn’t necessarily reflect a nation’s representation as a whole. May the victims’ souls rest in peace. Justice for the victims of the take over and Justice for the family of Inspector Mendoza. To all Hong Kong Nationals, please accept our sincerest apology. We could have done it better.
