Hostage Drama Led by a Top Police

A hostage crisis that took place near Quirino Grandstand in Manila becomes one of the most shocking events that happened in the Philippines wherein a dismissed policeman armed with a rifle hostage a bus with 25 people on board, mostly Hongkong tourists.

‘The hostage taker’

Former police inspector Rolando Mendoza who has been removed in service for allegedly extorting 20,000 from a hotel chef two years ago hijacked a bus and took the Hongkong tourists as hostage. He said that no one will be killed unless his demands will be heard. Mendoza was shot dead by a sniper at past 9pm.

‘Investigation’

The hostage drama began at 10:15am when Mendoza hitched a ride on the bus after the Hongkong tourists visited Fort Santiago in Intramuros, according to Senior Supt. Fidel Posadas, MPD deputy chief. After boarding the bus, Mendoza instructed the bus driver namely Antonio Lubang to proceed in front of Quirino Grandstand where he announced to the passengers that they will be taken hostage. Later that afternoon, Mendoza released two women, three children, a man and three Filipinos.

‘Mendoza’s demands’

Earlier that day, Mendoza demand some food for the hostages and a fuel so that the air conditioning of the bus will not be stopped. He also demanded that he be back from the police force. Apart from the reinstatement, Mendoza demanded that his son be brought to Manila. According to SPO Gregorio Mendoza, brother of the hostage taker Rolando Mendoza that his brother is very upset by his dismissal from the police force. The problem was he was unjustly removed from service. There was no due process, hearing and complaint. Gregorio also helped in the negotiation but was later on arrested because they thought that he is an accessory to his brother’s action.

‘Media coverage’

Live footages that were taken on the hostage crisis led by Rolando Mendoza were criticized by many people. This included blow-by-blow coverage of Mendoza’s brother being arrested by the police was seen by the hostage taker himself which may be the reason why he started shooting at some hostages inside the bus. According to some critics, media has done lapses on covering the hostage crisis because they were aware that the hostage taker were monitoring the situation through the television and radio.