A Survivor's Open Letter-Hostage Taking Crisis in the Philippines

I would like to share this note posted by Mr. James Earl which I read from facebook posted by one of my friends. Upon reading it, I could not help but cry and this was the first time I felt sad and lost for what happened to Mr. Mendoza. This is an eye opener for me and for those who discerned the man and his senseless death as well as the death of the tourist victims.

Open Letter TO A BLOODBATH IN QUIRINO GRANDSTAND By Bang Lu Min Quirino Bloodbath Survivor

by James Earl on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 1:29pm

-Let this be shared to shed some light on what actually happened during the tragic Quirino Grandstand Hostage Taking-

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 admits 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

A Bloody Night in the Philippines

In my almost 27 years of existence I have never felt the kind of emotion that I am feeling right now for what happened last August 23, 2010 at Quirino Grandstand (The very same spot where the newly elected president in the 2010 elections, Mr. Benigno Simeon Aquino III took his oath). I was watching the news when I saw a man by the name of Mr. Rolando Mendoza a former policeman who was dismissed from service because of an alleged money making that didn't undergo due process. He is an awarded police man who worked years and years of service but was dismissed & lost all his retirement benefits because of the incident where in he was not even proven guilty of. As I was watching the news, I saw this man wearing fatigue, armed and hostage a tourist bus supposedly on it's way to Manila's famous Ocean Park before going to the airport to take their evening flight going back to Hong Kong, their homeland. He was not violent at all and in fact he even freed a total of 8 hostages in the process of negotiations. This poor man only wanted to hear his case again in court, bring back his benefits and give him the chance to return to service till his retirement. Simple requests I think he rightfully deserves for the many years of service he devoted. I just don't understand why it took the authorities too long to give in to at least one of his requests or at least gave him the assurance that his demands will be granted. If they can't accept him back in service then at least he could be given his benefits.

As the hours went by and night time came, that was the only time when he received the resolution coming from the ombudsman saying they needed at least 10days to review his case before they could decide. A resolution that added more disappointment to Mr. Mendoza. His brother, Mr. Gregorio Mendoza who came to help in the negotiation was surprisingly apprehended by the police because he was accused of being a counterpart or an accessory in the hostage taking. Police officers arrested him and he was crying for help saying he is not involved in this whole fiasco. He is merely there to help. Mr. Gregorio Mendoza by the way is a police man himself and he is assigned in the traffic division. Along with his nephews, niece and son, he was surrounded by the SWAT team and forced his arrest which the family members begged on not touching or bringing Mr. Gregorio anywhere. However due to the overkill of the policemen he was held in custody and brought to the nearest police station for questioning.

Without thinking, the whole incident was being covered by media people and led to the fury of Mr. Rolando Mendoza who watched everything that transpired in the television inside the bus. A few minutes later, a couple of gun shots were heard and we saw the driver of the bus trying his best to escape which eventually he did. He ran towards the police officers, raised both his hands and shouted, "Wala na, patay na lahat, wala na, wala na!" (No more, everyone is dead! everyone is dead!). That triggered the SWAT team and police teamleaders to ask the assault team to take over. Without confirmation if the hostages are really dead, they went in to contain the bus. The rest is history.

A total of 8 Chinese were dead and 7 survived. Mr. Rolando Mendoza was killed and the whole incident ended in bloodbath. The area was surrounded by policemen, media people and spectators not weary of their own safety. I could not justify the kind of emotion I needed to feel. I felt so angry with the whole chaos. I'm mad because of the "VERY VERY SLOW" action of the police team that handled the hostage taking, there was no person in a higher authority who handled the negotiation and even the President of our country did not interfere when this is already a serious matter we are dealing with. This whole thing started at 10a.m. in the morning and until it was contained no one did anything to put a peaceful end. Now, fingers are being pointed at each other. The administration is accusing the media to have caused and triggered Mendoza's fury when he saw his brother & other member's of his family forcibly being arrested. Others blame on the officials and the policeman who handled the case and others blame the administration for keeping quiet about it. In fact, the President only gave out his statement after the bloodbath ended through a press conference.

In my own opinion though, blame never solves this issue. Things already happened and we should all learn from it. This is not the first time this incident happened in our country however this is the first time and hopefully the last time that tourists became victims. In this whole scenario, let us not condemn the man who started all this. He is a victim himself and all of us Filipinos are victims in this whole process too. Now the Chinese community hates our country and even posted a travel advisory prohibiting their people from coming to our country. This is definitely a huge impact on our tourism industry. I don't know how long we can renew ourselves and our country from the bad image and effects this has caused, but one thing is also clear at this point, the Filipino spirit never ends and I know in time when all wounds have healed, we can bring our good name and our the name of our people back.

I still am proud to be a Filipino.