GALLERY
HOSTAGE DRAMA Sequence of events in the hostage taking drama that transpired at the Quirino Grandstand Monday—from the negotiations until the police assault that led to the death of hostage-taker, former Senior
Inspector Rolando Mendoza. Video taken by Cathy Miranda, INQUIRER.net | READ FULL STORY
Another blot in the country's image was seen yesterday August 23, 2010 in Manila, Philippines. It was a hostage drama that many believe the taking of life can be avoided if only the police have done their part as negotiators and peace keepers.Imagine the harm done to the image of the Philippines by the clumsiness and knowhow of the police which evidently is too wanting.
Police Senor. Inspector Rolando Mendoza, a dismissed police officer tried in vain to make himself reinstated to his former position, but instead killed about eight foreign tourist from Hong Kong inside a tourist bus. He himself was killed by an sniper after it was known that many have been shot by him, as told by the driver who escaped from the bus early in the day, despite being handcuffed to the wheel of the bus.
Many who have seen the proceedings in their televisions have said that the killings could have been avoided if only the negotiators was patient enough and know what they are doing. They said that what trigger the anger of the hostage taker was the arrest of his younger brother who is only trying to help in the negotiation but being charged instead as accessory to the crime, whatever that is.
Another factor that triggered the anger of Mendoza is the letter coming from the Ombudsman which was hand carried by Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, contents of which made him more hopeless. This only shows that people who think they can help but instead make the situation worse.Even if the message is the truth, it should be withheld from the hostage taker or better give him an assurance that the charges and decisions would be reviewed by competent and higher authorities,
Some psychologist say that near relatives can appease the tense situation, rather than police authorities who he claimed have done him wrong. It was unfortunate that in spite of the many awards and commendations received by him during his service, all these things was not considered. In layman's view, many says that the hostage taker have no intention of taking lives. It was only because of the incidents cited above that trigger the anger deep inside him which many said could have been avoided if the right persons was on the scene, like his wife, parents, children, best friend, former superiors and other people that is part of his life before.
When the signal for the assault of the bus was given, many have seen the clumsiness of those who are giving and enforcing the command. We saw for a fact that only one sledge hammer is used that will surely attract the attention of the hostage taker, instead of assaulting the bus on all fronts or in unison. We know that the hostage taker is alone, so if he is attacked in all fronts he will not be able to cover himself or would not know where to defend his fort first.
They are doing the breaking of the glass doors and windows manually, so it would take time for them to finish, unlike when you use machines and other instruments that will make the task easy. We saw that one time they tried to drag the door by using a car in pulling it, but alas it took only a minute for the rope used to give way. They should used instead the tow cars that is very common in Manila that almost always is being used on protesting car owners by MMDA and private tow car companies, when they are caught parking on a no-parking zone.
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