Arm Chair General Reflections on the Manila hostage crisis

Before anything else I would just like to say, that this post is purely commentary observation on recent events that shockingly awaken the nation. I do not wish to be named an experts of such, rather only as a personal reflection on  events as they happened or a least as reported. With this being said I decided to take time in posting as more information is needed to create a more accurate picture as they unfolded in the long days ahead.
To recap last Monday the 23rd of August an ex-police offer Senior Inspector R. Mendoza seized a bus, with 22 Hung-Kong tourists and three Filipinos on board, in a desperate attempt to have himself cleared of extortion and illegal detention charges that had led to him being discharged from the service. The whole affair lasted 12 hours which ended  with the demised of 9 people included the hostage taker. The ordeal became a total fiasco from the outset down to the very last minutes, when it was drench with compromises after another at every turn that gave a very unfortunate conclusion for both the victims and the nation as a whole.

Where did it start.
Police in the midst of a self inflected plague, the cancer of corruption.
While everyone is focusing themselves on the tragic event itself, we tend to forget the bigger picture that led to it, not just the case that prompted the ex-police to acted idiotically but the whole police organization and indeed the entire public service structure.  For many years since the Marcos dictatorship the nation's police organization has been tainted with abuses and  disturbing corrupt practices that made it impotent to do its ordain constitutional mandate. Stories like political body guards, apathy, undisciplined and barely equip to do event the most simplest of policing jobs.  I can even recall a time when majority of the police force were actually plague with obesity which was the very least of its problem. Majority of the populace has a very low perception about the national police ranging from abuses both social and authoritative, and as if that is not worst of things, like many other branch of government it also lack proper training, equipment and the lack of major foresight in almost everything else. Growing up I remember old folk and I myself admittedly use the phrase "ayahay pa sa polis" the phrase is use commonly to describe a person lounging about and getting paid for it. . In fairness compare to the PNP before this new generation fared a bit better though still found wanting. Even a few years back the PNP even acted somewhat perfectly in situations such as hijacking of a bus carrying school children in Manila in 2007, and the standoff at the Manila Peninsula Hotel also in 2007.

A different book altogether.
The tragic event last Monday had the same genre like many other hostage taking incident in the country except for some major details that made it a different book altogether. For one, the perpetrator has the same background training as those who are opposing him, that by itself already negates what ever tactical advantage the police had at the onset. It is also clear that there were many factors that put a seal on the tragic affair. The lack of tactical intelligence of the area of operation particular the inner working of the bus itself, the isolation of the area in question, more importantly media and crowd control, and lastly tactical and logistical readiness of the assault team.



Adding fuel to the fire.
Prior to the violence the negotiation went well until it  was compromised by meddling personalities particularly the brother of the hostage taker and someone else which the hostage taker seem to be taking advice from, at the height of the crisis, as reported today in the news, aside from "brother boy bulabog" idiotic meddling, local television media also broadcast boy bulabog's resistance and subsequent arrest including interview, which was view by the hostage taker at the very comfort of the besiege bus adding fuel to the fire.

Finger pointing.
Its a common behavior of self righteous arrogance none so true as this one. The police already admitted their shortcomings of the affair yet I personally feel that their are more to consider and take account. Boy Bulabog and the mysterious adviser for one, also I feel the media should take up some responsibility of the matter as well, for over indulging itself in the pretense of responsible journalism.which I personally think centers on ratings rather than the consequence of such violent event.




As to who ever is to blame for a tragic effort an obvious conclusion is clear and changes should be made and learned by heart. The people given the task failed and that's a clear button lime Yet worst is still to come if those who have the power to influence both media and law enforcement failed to make changes on themselves. It is sad that such tragedy became a catalyst that brought light to the lingering problem in the government and it would be worst if we failed to correct it. The task now is if these people have the guts for positive and active change.Or  would we still  settle for " OK na yan!" attitude.

The Capacity to Learn is a gift,
The Ability to Learn is a skill,
and the Willingness to Learn is a Choice

Who is the victim
Aside from the obvious direct victims of the tragedy, I also feel that the entire nation is the victim. The victim of the egotistical idiot of Mr. R. Mendoza. And the victim of whole sale corruption.