Last August 24th has been a true tragedy for both the Chinese and the Filipino nation. As a a Filipino, I myself cannot help but feel outraged of these sudden act of violence within the state. As a student of diplomacy, I cannot help but frown by the scarring consequences this could create to the image and international affairs of the country. As a woman of rationality, I cannot fathom the idea... the thought of how the man who orchestrated the tragedy would ever achieve his goal and demands by involving innocent tourists into his cause... was he really expecting to achieve something by the end of his act? As a woman who believes in a higher being, may His spirit be with all of those who were at lost by the end of a day this month of August year 2010.
ONE MAN - the Orchestrator
All that it took was one man... a single entity... an individual... to create rage, panic, uncertainty, and hollow sadness to most people who were involved and aware of the hostage taking tragedy in Quirino Grandstand. I call the incident a "hostage taking tragedy" in contrast to many who address to it as a "hostage taking drama", for it has never been a drama to start with... it has been a tragedy on all points of view. The hijacker former police officer Rolando Mendoza used to be the chief of Manila Police's Mobile Patrol Unit in 2008. But of the same year he was charged with robbery and extortion (with the so called "hulidap" practice of some police planting evidence and seeking a pay off from the victims) and was later on relieved of his duties. Mendoza claims he is innocent of such claims and appeals to have his case reconsidered. A reconsideration and an appeal - the known cause of his act. Until the very end of the negotiations where agitation and frustration succumb Mendoza... he claimed he was innocent of the charges. However... taking hostage and killing innocent tourists - he is absolutely guilty. Based on the background checks made in our perpetrator he has been considered as one of the best in his service of 20years in PNP. He has been one of the Ten Most Outstanding Policemen in 1996 with 17 police service medals and was often awarded for his honesty and recommendation for excellence. How is it then that a man of such accord could be transformed into a person who would be remembered mostly in hate and angst. I told you it has been a tragedy on all points of view. That a man... alone... an individual... the orchestrator of this act claims that he wants justice for his "wronged" sentence. That in losing hope to hear anything for the turning over of the decision to his case, he took it into his hands to show the world of his cause - in a very wrong and horrid way.
SPILL OVER ANGER
True enough the word has pretty much spilled around the international community. The painstaking 9hours of stand off between the SWAT and Mendoza. The ill planned and unpreparedness of the PNP to respond to the highs and lows of the situation. The unseemly approach and strategy for containing the scene... it was witnessed by millions of people, criticized and dissected. Sad that the Filipino police has been known worldwide for our efforts in Peacekeeping (by the UN) from the ruins of Golan Heights and up to the disheveled Afghanistan. Our police personnel were awarded and recognized for their preparedness, attitude and skills for maintaining peace. However, in their homeland... an isolated incident it seemed, yes... however, the irony of the situation makes me frown. In the end... the Filipinos as widely dispersed as we are are once again brought to a challenge of a racial distinction and discrimination. A spill over of emotions and rage from the Chinese (and maybe not) community in Hongkong and even in Canada (there were Canadian citizens as well) toward the Filipinos are irrational yet understandable. Filipinos working in Hongkong are now at risk of unemployment and a scapegoat of anger. Rallies in front of the Philippine Consulate are on going. Cyber movements have been in play. Again - irrational yet... understandable. No matter how I'll beg to differ to spare us the blame... for truly none of us ever wanted a tragedy to occur, only time could tranquilize the rage. Time - not in a sense of letting it pass... but time in a sense of speeding up pace to answer the inquiries of the Hongkong government... and time to make up to the shortcomings of the Philippine Government as a whole. We cannot have a turning over of the tables where as the outraged community as Mendoza... and the Filipinos abroad as the innocent tourists caught up in the middle.
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