PERSONAL NOTE TO THE EFFECTS OF MANILA HOSTAGE TAKING INCIDENT.

* MY PERSONAL JOURNAL  *

August 26, 2010 1:57 AM

Mixed emotions surrounds me as i watch the news today. As a Filipino Citizen, i would like to extend my deepest condolences to all the grieving families of the victims. I feel sad, i feel angst for all the grieving families of the victims and  worried as well for all Filipinos in Hong Kong who might experience outright discrimination by their employer because of what had happened last August 23, 2010 in Quirino Grandstand, Manila. Aside from that news from different televisions stations all over the world, centers one issue, mainly the :"Manila Hostage Taking Incident" that occurred in our country. 

As i watch the Rundown news today in ANC  News,  i have seen the bodies of hostage victims arriving in Hong Kong and feels sad seeing the relatives grieving for their loved ones. I know how hard it is to lost someone dear in our heart because my grandfather died before due to a tragic accident too. 

Another news mentioned that there are acts of discriminations occurring in Hong Kong against the Filipino OFW's.  One Filipina worker was relieve from her job because of the hostage drama. Then one Hong Kong investor backed out from his plan of creating a call center here in the Philippines due to hostage drama incident. Teresita Ang See, the Chinese interpreter, mentioned and relay the mixed feelings of the relatives of the victims during her Rundown interview by the ANC News. She said that the victims thought that the hostage drama was planned by the hostage taker because he chooses their bus knowing that it was a Chinese tourists bus. But the interpreter informed the relatives that it was not like that, because mostly of the bus here in the Philippines are from China considering that China is one of the biggest trading partner of the Philippines. Aside from that, the interpreter mentioned that the relatives don't wanna be near with the Filipinos as they ride the elevator. 

Aside from that the 7 countries around the world releases a Ban Travel advisory to all its citizens in all locations here in the Philippines. These countries are China, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand, etc. As far as i know mostly are from Asia.

But despite of all this negative news, one notable twit shown some hope for us when, Chinese Celebrity Jackie Chan tweeted on his Twitter account @EyeOfJackieChan:  "this kind of things always happen around the world. It happen to hk's people, the whole hk is talking about it. Its really sad." He even acknowledged the difficult situation the  Philippine authorities were in during the incident. He stated, "If they killed the guy sooner, they will say why not negotiate first? If they negotiate first, they ask why not kill the guy sooner? So sad." He even commented regarding discrimination against Filipinos in HK and contradict it by twitting in his account: "HK is a nation built by a lot of people." He even added, "Dont worry, we do not hate!" 

As far as any Filipino people are concerned, all i can say is that what had happened last August 23. 2010 is an isolated case which are out of our control. Events like these occur not only in our country, but in different parts of the globe. One things for sure is that, we all hate what had happened. If the government had done better and have find measure and ways on how to save the lives of all the hostages, none of these scenarios would have occurred. Even my dad was shouting at the television when the hostage taker is acting aggressively, as we watched the incident live in the news, stating, "They should give what he wants! They should have not made him angrier by capturing his brother. What are they doing? Give him what he wants! Reinstate and give him his pensions. Afterall he is few months away from retirement! What's important is that lives must be saved! That man is no longer in his right senses!" Well, i could not agree more with my dad. If the government have done it earlier, none of these sad scenarios have occurred. :(

I am sending my deepest condolences to all the relatives of the hostage victims. Hoping that the everything will be alright in due time. 

WHO IS CAPTAIN ROLANDO MENDOZA? WAS HE REALLY THAT BAD?

Captain Rolando Mendoza,

was he really that bad?

Highlights of August 23, 2010 news in the Philippines is the hostage taking incident that occured in Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila. The hostage taker was Captain Rolando Mendoza who was relieved from office due to extortion case against him. According to the news, 4 people were dead and 1 is in critical condition.

Now the question besets us all is, Who is Captain Rolando Mendoza?

Captain Rolando Mendoza, 56,  is a bemedalled cop who was months away from his mandatory retirement from his police service as revealed by the records of the police authorities. As revealed by the DPRM (Director of Police Records and Management, Mendoza should have been an honorable retiree cop who obtained a total of 17 police service medal and a commendation for excellent job performance. Among the awards received were: Medalya ng Papuri; PNP Badge of Honor; Medalya ng Kasanayan; Medalya ng Kagalingan; and Medalya ng Paglilingkod. He was a graduate of the Philippine College of Criminology who entered the law enforcement service through the PC-INP in 1981. Police service apparently runs in the veins of Mendoza's Family.

Hence, it shows that Captain Rolando Mendoza was a dedicated policeman who worked hard during his entire period of service as a policeman. Based on his records, he was a good man who wanted to serve the public.

Why then? It is impossible to believe that a man who have been faithful during the entire period of his service would turn out a be z monster thereafter. What was the reason behind such aggressive acts of a kind hearted man?

Now the next question that besets us, is, "Why did he do such horrible thing?!"

According to reliable sources, trouble in Mendoza's life occured in 2008 when he and at least four other policemen were accused of extorting money from a chef whom they accosted alledgedly for parking violation and possession of illegal drugs.

As a result of these incident, Mendoza meted 90 day preventive suspension. But was reinstated after the suspension was served. But on February 16 of 2009, he was dismissed from service.

According to one policeman, he was depressed due to his early dismissal because the order comes with the forfeiture of his retirement benefits and perpetual disqualification from government service. As mentioned by a doctor, Mendoza's acts was prompted by his depression. Post depression.

Hence, it is sad to say that the big wrong decision of Captain Rolando Mendoza to hostage the Chinese Nationals and Filipinos in the bus was due to his post depression  of the dismissal and perpetual disqualification event.

Now these are the questions that worried us,

"Was he really that bad?

What was the reason behind that causes him to shot the victims? Who should be blame?

Do you believe that he really wanted to kill them? Or something or some event prompted him to act aggresively?

Should we blame the police authorities for taking his relatives aggresively?

Was that the reason that prompted him to act like that?

I'll leave all these questions for you to answer and ponder.

FORMER CAPTAIN ROLANDO MENDOZA KILLED CHINESE TOURISTS DUE TO DISMISSAL

The guy who was waving in front of the tourists bus entrance was the hostage taker, Captain Rolando Mendoza's who was still alive.

(Photo by LINUS G. ESCANDOR II)

Headline news in the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines today August 23, 2010 and still on going, is the hostage taking of a former Captain Rolando Mendoza who hostage a tourists bus due to his dismissal from office. According to the news media, hostage taking started to occur at around 7:00 AM but was only reported to the public at around 10 AM today. Also tv reports mentioned that there are 20 Chinese National Tourists and three Filipinos were hostage taken by Mendoza. As of now, 8:17 PM, credible sources believed that all of the 15 chinese nationals are dead already because they is no more movements to be seen. As confirmed by the driver of the bus named Alberto Lubang, who was able to escape from the bus, told the authorities that all the Chinese tourists who were suppose to go home today were held hostage and was believed by authorities present at the location that they are dead already. It was believed that Mendoza killed all the tourists in one portion of the bus and shots them successively. Six of the seven foreigners who were released are from Hong Kong. They are Tsan Yee Lai, 40; Fuchak Yin, 10; Wong Chin Nat, 12; Fu Chang Yin, 4; Diana Chan; and Lee See Kyu.

The criminal acts was prompted by Mendoza's dismissal from office and he was demanding from the public officials for his reinstatement from the office. But it went unheeded that's why he hostage the tourists and eventually shots those hostages. Mendoza was dismissed from his office due to several complaints filed against him in the Office of the Ombudsman due to extortion case.


According to the bus driver, Mendoza was able to board the bus when he told the driver that he would just hitch a ride. Once inside, he declared hostage and commandeered the bus driver until they reached Rizal Park. Mendoza signed a note saying, "BIG DEAL WILL START AFTER 3 PM TODAY," which was stuck to the door of the bus. Another sign stuck in the window stated, "3PM TODAY DEADLOCK." Another one at the bus door stating, "BIG MISTAKE TO CORRECT A BIG WRONG DECISION." Another one at the window stating, "RELEASE FINAL DECISION."


Hong Kong authorities sent two officials here in Manila and a hot line was set up in Hong Kong for families of the hostages. Hong Kong's Secretary for Security, Ambrose Lee mentioned that he was hoping that the incident will be resolve peacefully and that the hostages will be released safely and quickly as possible.

At around 7:00 PM, the police authorities has not taken control of the situation and still Mendoza is inside the bus. One policeman was shot on the process.

Updates as of 8:24 PM, continuous gunshots were fired by Mendoza directed to all the policeman. According to the authorities, Mendoza was equipped with various high powered firearms which makes it difficult for the policeman to stabilize the situation at hand. When the automatic fire was shot, a civilian on looker was wounded. 


Six of the seven foreigners released are from Hong Kong. They are Tsan Yee Lai, 40; Fuchak Yin, 10; Wong Chin Nat, 12; Fu Chang Yin, 4; Diana Chan; and Lee See Kyu.


As of 8:40 PM, successive shots were heard now coming from inside the bus after the teargas was thrown by the police authorities inside the gun. Then a lifeless body was seen laying dead in the entry door. News were thinking that the body was from Captain Roberto Mendoza. But still we have to confirmed if it was really him.


As of 8:46 PM, four hostages were seen coming out from the emergency exit door of the bus. two female and two male who were believed to be teenagers. According to news team, Mendoza is wearing blue shirt and fatigue pants equipped with one cellphone and  several magazine of ammunitions. One injured female emerged from the bus and another two lifeless body of two females were found.  One female lifeless body was shot on the head.


As of 8:56 PM, one female body was taken out from the bus window while one female woman got out from the bus who appears to be crying a lot. 

According to reliable sources who was present in Manila Doctors Hospital there was one hostage victim who was bleeding at lot due to a slit cut  on his/her throat. The medical team tried to revive the said victim at the ambulance but the medical team declared that the victim is already dead. DOA.


Below is a video footage from the location of the hostage taking.