The Manila Hostage Taking

-->

The horrifying hostage taking incident that took place in Manila the other day is definitely an added blemish to the country’s over-all impact to the international community. There were a lot of “finger-pointings” as to the cause of the tragic end. Obviously, too many blunders have been commited, but it’s all water under the bridge now. It is just heartbreaking that a supposedly good police officer would have to involve innocent tourists' lives in his fight for his reinstatement in the organization that sacked him. The country is once again positioned in a bad light. Hopefully this nightmare that haunted not only the country but the whole world as well will break the ground to dig into the deeper loopholes present in the police organization as well as the local and the national government. I sympathize with all the victims, their relatives and their countrymen.

I got this postscript written by one of the hostage taking survivors from an email. Some of you may already have read it but in case you haven't yet, I'm sharing it here with you.

Postcripts Of A BloodBath
by Bang Lu Min
(One of the Hostages)

Mr. Mendoza was already upset even before he saw on television what the
policemen did to his brother. The other tourists who remained inside the bus
were complaining. Wei Ji Jiang wanted to go to the bathroom. Dao Chi Yu was
hungry and the rest were just groaning and whining like they have forgotten that
our lives rest in Mr. Mendoza's hands.

The hostage taker, as you know him was really nice. He treated us okay and even
let the elders and the children leave the bus. He said your policemen treated
him unfairly. He was a policeman too and was accused of doing something he had
no knowledge of. But your government didn't listen so he used us to get
everyone's attention.

Things would have never turned for the worst if he didn't see how his family was
dragged out of their house and taken into custody. He was watching the news all
the time as we huddled around each other behind the bus. He shouted some words
in your language then started shooting in the air. A girl about my age started
screaming. Mr. Mendoza demanded her to stop but she didn't understand English.
God, he had to slash her neck with a knife just to put her to rest. Her
boyfriend who tried to hit him was shot in the head.

Tension was rising. You can see in his face how scared and confused he was. The
bus driver ran away leaving him alone with strangers from a distant land. I can
see him walking across the aisle, sometimes pointing his machine gun to one of
the tourists. But he tried his best not to hurt us, especially those who really
cooperate.

I guess its in your nature not to inflict pain on others unless it was
necessary. I remember him saying that he will free us before sundown and
implored us to forget everything when we return home. But his words don't matter
now. The policemen were trying to force their way in, while we all lied down to
shield ourselves from bullets. Mister Mendoza blindly shoots at his enemies
which I think kept them from rescuing us. I hear sobs under the chairs. Some
were even shouting the names of their loved ones even when the air merely eat
their words. Kevin Tang tried to escape when the glass door was was shattered,
but one shot and he slumped on the floor with blood gushing from his mouth.

Heavy rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop. In old Chinese saying, it means an
end to a struggle. Finally, somebody was able to open the escape hatch at the
back of the bus. Freedom. But I knew Mister Mendoza was still alive. I knew he
was just waiting for a chance to strike back at his enemies. So I told those
around me not to escape. Let the authorities come for us instead. Then there was
gunfire. He was firing at his enemies with a machine gun. Those who were at the
escape hatch fled abandoning us once again. It's like a nightmare with no end
and to wake up means a certain death. Then somebody from outside the bus threw a
canister. It forced out a black smoke that is so painful to the eyes and putrid
smelling to the nose. People started screaming. We cannot breathe. Some ran in
front of the bus but Mister Mendoza warned them of stray bullets. It was too
late. One was hit on the head, the other was hit on the shoulders. Bullets were
now flying. Its like the authorities thought we were all dead. Mister Mendoza
finally realizes his mistake and said sorry to everyone, dead or alive. He then
ran towards the front of the bus where he would meet his maker. As he passed by
my chair with bullets whistling overhead, I clutched my hand on the velvet
curtain and wrapped it around my face. All I could think of was to stay alive -
for my child who is waiting for me back in Xinjang. I know I will survive,

I will come home.

Bang Lu Min
Survivor, Quirino Bloodbath