Philippines: certified one of world's most disappointing Police forces

PNP - Philippine National Police, what do they do? They protect and serve the country, they are the protectors of every citizen and tourist in the country, to ensure the safety and preserve the right of everyone. They serve the country even with meager salary.

Ain't this a depressing sight to see?

But last August 23, I saw how a fine police officer was eaten by the corrupt system. Police Super Intendant Rolando Mendoza, a decorated police officer and was even awarded as one of the top ten best police officers of the country. It's so sad to see him take the lives of tourists at risk as he held a hostage drama at Quirino grandstand near Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines.

What made him do this? What happened?

DISMISSED

Mendoza claimed that there was foul play why he was dismissed, he was included in the case of "extortion" months ago together with 4 of his lower officers. He wasn't at the scene when the extortion happened but since he's in command for the 4 officers, he was relieved from duty.

TO CORRECT A BIG MISTAKE

The hostage taking started past 10am, hours after, he demanded that his case of extortion be dismissed and he be reinstated to the police force , also that his pension after retirement be given (after the dismissal, he was disqualified from working for any government agency and also removed his pension).

HOPING FOR THE BEST

Hours after the start of the hostage taking, Mendoza released 9 hostages. The police believed that the drama would end at 3pm as Mendoza posted "BIG DECISION TO BE MADE AT 3PM"

UNSTABLE NEGOTIATION

After 3pm the negotiation began to fail as some demands are not met. The brother of Mendoza, Gregorio who's also a Police officer came to the scene, without informing the negotiators, he was escorted away from the bus.

FINAL ATTEMPT TO NEGOTIATE

Mendoza was given a paper stating a promise to review his case, but that was not what he wanted, he asked for a dismissal to the case, Gregorio, his brother was arrested for being a "conspirator" to the hostage taking drama. Gregorio and his relatives made a scene, they were hysterical and the Police wasn't using force on them. Gregorio ran to the media and there he claims that if something bad happens to the hostages he will be killed and he does not trust the Police (even if he is one).

NEGOTIATIONS DERAILED, BLOOD BATH ON TRACK

It was suggested that Gregorio's scene made Mendoza really angry that made him berserk, because it was also said that Mendoza might be closely tuned in to the local news channel where the media was covering the drama live, if we was doing so it meant he saw everything. Mendoza started shooting from inside the bus and thus the SWAT started to storm the bus at least 3 times before finally putting him down with a sniper shot.

As intense as it looks like, it's still depressing

What do I think?

- I think the negotiations were doing quite well for the first few hours when Mendoza was still releasing hostages, it was when his brother Gregorio came in that the winds of momentum changed. I believe that Mendoza was watching when Gregorio was taken away because just minutes after the arrest, The bus started moving and shots rang from the inside of the bus. I think the Philippine POLICE SWAT isn't right to be called SWAT, because there was nothing SPECIAL about their siege, no TACTICS at all. The MEDIA should not be blamed because they were cooperative and they did their job to give the people the coverage they needed, they  did not approach Gregorio, he ran to where the media was, they were in a designated place and they were there. 

Bumpy's thoughts and Suggestion

TO THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE

Please be what you are ought to be, the S.W.A.T looked like amateur clowns in there, throwing flash bangs without going in after the flash. I may not be an expert but I know the purpose of the flash bang is to disorient the enemy for a few seconds. Anyway please perform your jobs right because I too have been a victim of corrupt officials in your uniform.

The S.W.A.T should move fast, they practiced the assault earlier in the day and they said it was successful, I watched the video and I don't know if I should laugh or be mad. HEY ASSHOLES! you used a smaller bus  to practice, and of course it will be easier to get in because there no one inside it! What happened during the real assault? You were sitting ducks, there is no excuse to anything because you were supposedly trained to handle the situation. No hand signals at all, watching you guys was pain in the eyes. They should have studied the bus earlier, know where to enter, the emergency doors.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

NO CROWD CONTROL - What if there was a time bomb planted and it exploded? more people would be in caskets today.

TO ROLANDO MENDOZA

Rolando Mendoza, why? once the best, now put to rest

Even if you're dead now I got something to tell you and don't worry this will be quick. You cannot correct a mistake by another mistake. With your death you left our country's dignity in its lowest level, you put the lives of Overseas Filipino Workers around the world especially in Hong Kong in danger.

Filipina Students in Chinese front page

TO MY FELLOW FILIPINOS

PLEASE! AND I REALLY MEAN IT, PLEASE DON'T MAKE THIS INCIDENT AS IF IT'S A JOKE! DON'T MAKE THE BUS AS IF IT'S A TOURIST SPOT AND PLEASE DON'T EDIT THE PICS WITH PARODIES. IT'S EMBARRASSING AND IT ADDS INSULT TO THE HONG KONG NATIONALS. SO PLEASE, BE SENSITIVE AND USE YOUR BRAIN.

To the world: Nobody wanted this to happen, please understand that the tourists were NOT targeted because they are Chinese. WE ARE NOT RACISTS. We are sorry for whatever things our stupid and insensitive countrymen are doing.

The failure of the Government affects its body

PNP: Truly one of the worlds most disappointments

3 people, 3 reasons, 1 goal

     What a week it has been for me, It was so busy with all the requirements needed. School works including co curricular activities. All the stress for me can be relieved by one unusual thing. 

a long, cold and night bus travel home.

     You might think it's weird, it is! I mean most of us wants to go home early to rest our bodies and be a couch potato. Not me I guess, I tend to love sitting alone in the bus looking outside, thinking about what happened earlier during the day, the good and the bad things that happened, ponder on things. There's a lot really going on my mind each time I ride the bus at night.

     If you would be a spectator to me at the bus, you'll see me laugh at my own self like I'm a crazy man, I sometimes sing quietly with the support of my music player, but I only do this if there's less than 10 people inside the bus.

     However, August 19 was different, it was not me standing up singing my lungs out nor me snoring so loud, but there was 3 different people with 3 different reasons of going up under one goal, get financial support from us, the bus riders.

     The first was a dark skinned man, roughly burned by the sun. The name's "Jhetz" as I recall, selling his "Special macapuno and pastillas" to support his studies, he's about my age and I realized that I'm so lucky that I don't have to work for my education, so "why not" I said to myself. I bought 2 small packs of macapuno worth 25 pesos. I hope what I read in his letter was true because if he really does work for his education, he can get off from poverty. I remember what my friend said to me:

"Di mo kasalanan na pinanganak kang mahirap, pero pag namatay ka nang mahirap, kasalanan mo na yun"

                              (It's not your fault to be born poor, but if you die poor, that's your fault)

photo courtesy from the net.

     30 minutes after Jhetz went up, another man came up the bus. This time a rugged man of mid 30's gave me, no actually he threw the letter to me when I refused to take it. The letter stated that he was a victim of demolition, that's it, nothing more stated there, it was just supported by a signature below by a "chairman". I didn't give him money not because I don't care, but because I don't have any extra money to spare. I think demolished citizens should be taken care of by the Government, they demolish therefor they should first find a relocation site for my unfortunate countrymen. They're humans to you know. Sometimes people treat them like dirt.

     I've been stuck for 1 and 1/2 hours in traffic when the third man sitting suddenly stood up, brought out his bible and took the next 15 minutes or so of preaching about the word of God. He was reading verses and explaining what it meant, the first thing I thought was the effort of standing in the bus and preach while venturing the rough roads of EDSA highway. He was talking about how God loves us and about charity, to give to the poor and everything good must be done. It was all doing well, I stopped my music player and listened to him. It was all good until he said something that made me raise my eyebrows. He plugged in a TV show and started giving envelopes asking for donations. That's when I knew why he talked about charity first. Ugh, It was almost perfect.

     I finally got off and at least I wasn't bored during that long journey home. I thing I learned from those 3 people who I assume will never cross my way again, It's Courage. Courage to do anything just to get by another day.

Photo courtesy of:

Preacher and Demolition