News Overshadowed by Luneta Grandstand Hostage Crisis

The hostage crisis situation dominated the news headlines in the last 8 days. As a result, equally important issues took a back seat:

• Worsening dengue situation - said to have increased by 75% this year. Calling DOH.
• Ampatuan Massacre - postponements that seem to delay the early conviction of those who will be found guilty.
• Human rights violation again,  allegedly committed by Manila policemen
• Hide and Ply strategy of colorum buses with  EDSA routes  
• Continuous media campaign to support the government's plans to address possible flood crisis situation during the remaining typhoon season.
• Mismanagement of gov't funds by GOCC's.. after current Senate investigation,  what now?

Luneta Hostage Taking Tragedy Damage Control

Secretary Leila de Lima is now the top point person  to resolve  the  Luneta  hostage crisis problem. Perhaps, the government noticed that  investigators  were churning out oxymoronic statements regarding their respective investigative actions.

As her initial action Sec De Lima ordered everyone to shut up.  

The point is all this government needs to do is to provide the  facts. What happened? From whose guns  did the fatal bullets come from? Who ordered what? What procedures were not followed? Protocols violated? Rights violated? Does the PNP  have an existing plan to handle hostage or terrorist actions? Who failed to do his job? Or their jobs? What happens to these people? 

No whitewash please.. no sweeping under the rug..

So when do we expect the results to be released? Timeline please.

Notes from the Senate Hearings on the Luneta Grandstand Hostage Taking

Snippets of information I gathered from the Senate hearings on the Luneta Hostage Crisis Fiasco:

1. Gen Magtibay as the ground commander had the power to use the more experienced RSAF which was at that time at his disposal, to address the crisis. He did not. Instead it was his judgment call to stick with his MPD SWAT team because of the team's assurance that they can do it.

2. The SWAT team were not properly equipped to execute the assault, despite the fact that they already practiced it's execution.

3. The assualt was launched because the ground commander believed the escaped driver's statement that the hostages were already killed by the hostage taker.

4. It was Mayor Lim who ordered the arrest of the hostage taker's brother.

5. The hostage taker's M16 is really a loose firearm because he had no authority to carry one.

6. Per the SWAT Team leader's statement, 8-12 rounds of fire were released only to distract the hostage taker. Nothing more.

7. The NCRPO Command was already processing a "fake" order to reverse the execution of Mendoza's dismissal order if only to facilitate the safe release of the hostages. But things turned out differently.

Clearly, the PNP's capability as an organization is short in many, many ways.

Hopefully the new government can correct this. Otherwise, we should all be packing our bags to go to Australia or New Zealand.

Afterthought on Luneta Hostage Incident

Just thinking, wouldn't VP Binay have handled this better if he was sitting as DILG Secretary?

Aftermath: The Luneta Hostage Crisis

Because I am a religious radio listener, I was naturally tuned in that day. At 10:00  in the morning, the news said that there was a hostage taking incident involving foreign tourists riding a tourist bus. A certain dismissed police officer commandeered the bus from Fort Santiago, a famous tourist spot .

At first they said the tourists were  Koreans, which I immediately  posted in my facebook account. But immediately corrected as well, when media said those involved  were Hongkong and Chinese nationals.

It was clear from the video shots that the hostage taker was armed with high powered firearms. What went wrong during this crisis? My two cents worth and this I am not saying just now but as early as noon of that fateful day, I thought that

• the police were ill prepared  to handle hostage  crisis situations
• media was too eager to broadcast such a very sensitive situation.. hello..as always everyone wanted to out-scoop each other
• absence of top PNP officials at the time the situation was turning from bad to worse .."entirely a police matter?" har har
• top government officials mishandling of  the incident.. where were they? perhaps not early on but as the situation developed towards the afternoon.. didn't this involve foreigners? how does this government measure the importance of a situation to warrant direct involvement of concerned top officials?

There were and still are so many reactions, comments, criticisms not only on tbe way the Police,  the DILG and the President himself  handled the situation. It would be redundant to mention them again, but..

If only to appease the Hongkong government and its citizens, does this not warrant a resignation somewhere at the top? 

Holes in the Screening Process?

Like it or not,  PNoy and his men will be in the news for 6 years.  Perhaps on a minute by minute basis. Because everyone is keeping an eye. Friends and family want PNoy  to succeed. Along with the people who voted for him, they want President Noy to perpetuate his parent's legacy -  Service to the People.

The new converts, sincerely moved  by his initial actions are also keeping tab. Many want him to do well.

By the same token, his enemies too are following the President's every move. Critics observe.  His cabinet men's every word  scrutinized. Actions constantly checked out.  

Majority of the Filipinos are full of expectations  for change. Under his command, people look forward to good governance. A corrupt free administration will  be a way of life, hopefully. The underprivileged are counting on PNoy. Gone will be the  grinding days of  daily  survival.  Asia's basket case image will finally be discarded. 

But what is this? In the last two days, hugging the news are cases being filed against his appointees like  Secretary Singson  and MMDA Chairman Tolentino.  Plunder from shady deals, land grabbing and other corrupt practices are alleged.  If these are true, was there a failure in the screening process of his men? The President  himself admitted, it was a very difficult process. He did not know everyone who was recommended. So where there holes somewhere?

The men accused say these are all tactics of harrasment . Politics. 


I am praying hard,  they are just that.

God help our country.