An analysis of the hostage crisis and the Filipinos' attitude of
self-defeatism,
feelings of inferiority,
lack of nationalism, etc..etc..etc..
Guys this is a very nice read. I got this from a website.
Please read with an open mindand share your inputs, comments, whatever.
This issue is not just about the hostage crisis but the Filipinos' attitude toward himself.
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By Kevin Punzalan
What I saw on television two days ago made me sick.
I was on vacation, on a beautiful island in northern Palawan when I heard the news: a bus had apparently been hijacked by a madman. It had been a long day, and I was curious, so I looked for the news channel on a television in my room, and there it was, a tourist bus parked perpendicularly on Parade Avenue in front of the Quirino Grandstand. I knew the place well: it was the same place where President Aquino and all of our Presidents from Quezon to Marcos had been inaugurated.
At the time, the Rolando Mendoza, the hostage taker, was still alive, as were the eight Chinese hostages who would later perish in the firefight that would follow. As I continued to follow developments, I saw the public spectacle of his brother, Gregorio, resisting arrest; saying that "he had done nothing wrong". Later on, it was revealed that he had goaded his brother to escalate the situation if the former did not have his demands met.
Minutes passed. Then, the bus turned and began to move out of its exclusion zone. Snipers who had previously held their fire suddenly shot out the tires of the bus, rendering it immobile. Mendoza, who had seen his brother arrested on television, decided to open fire through the front windscreen. Given a signal, the Manila Police District SWAT team, armed only with M-16s, pistols, helmets and hammers surrounded the bus, and then began to break the windows. An agonizing hour later, and after a copious exchange of fire, police entered the bus through the emergency exit, and stormed the hostage-taker.
What happened next is still a matter for speculation, but its outcome is not. Eight Hong Kong chinese tourists are dead, and Hong Kong has imposed a 'black' travel advisory on the country. The reputations of not only the Manila police, but that of Benigno Aquino, the Philippine government, and of our country and people have been tarnished.
Much has been said of the mistakes that the police made. A report by Charles Shoebridge on the BBC website took note of this (
BBC News - Ten things the Philippines bus siege police got wrong) and outlined all the errors committed by the SWAT team. I agree wholeheartedly that whoever led the strategy of the assault should be fired. However, the mistakes made since the event extend far beyond those committed in the assault of the bus. To take a larger view, we must examine how members of the Philippine and Hong Kong governments, the media, extremist elements and even ordinary bloggers turned this into an international incident.
Things didn't have to turn out that way. In the first place, this was a domestic incident of violence that turned horribly wrong. What should have been an open-and-shut case of hostage negotiation and - if necessary - an assault turned into a media circus and an international incident. There is plenty of blame to go around, but we should start with those most directly responsible:
First, the Manila Police District. When it was made aware that a member of their own had gone rogue, the PNP should have taken over command of the situation. Aside from the fact that the MPD's familiarity with Mendoza could have clouded judgement during the crisis, it was also apparent that the MPD swat team had neither the tactics nor the equipment to storm the bus effectively and decisively. Then, the MPD allowed Mendoza's brother Gregorio to participate in the negotiations. Considering that the latter was also a member of the MPD, and could have shared his brother's disgruntlement, this was an imprudent decision. Then, the police failed to jam incoming mobile transmissions to and from the bus, allowing Mendoza full awareness of what was going on outside, including the arrest of his brother, as pointed out by Scott Stewart of STRATFOR. (
A Botched Hostage Rescue in the Philippines | STRATFOR) Finally, the unprofessional conduct of several police officers in posing in front of the crime scene for photos (
Souvenir photos in front of bullet-riddled bus irk HK folk - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos) incited hatred and condemnation across the South China Sea.
Of course, we cannot let blame fall all on the Police. It was Isko Moreno, vice-Mayor of Manila, who offered Mendoza intercession in negotiating with the Ombudsman (Merceditas Gutierrez) in reviewing the dismissal of the former. What made this wrong was the fact that he had no experience dealing with hostage crises and had no business being in charge of any negotiations. Plus, he offered this concession late in the day, when it was clear that the police were simply buying time and when Mendoza had run out of patience. Worse, the letter was offered concurrently with the arrest of Mendoza's brother, rendering any effort to negotiate useless.
Later, when Moreno was interviewed on CNN by Kristie Lu Stout, he attempted to highlight his offer to do anything to placate Mendoza. An incredulous Stout asked: "So, were you offering to reinstate this man in the police force?". Moreno responded by saying that he was willing to do anything to prevent violence. This was a disturbing admission of how easily the city of Manila could give in to terrorist demands in the future. Incredibly, when he was asked to comment on the potential effects of the event on the Philippines' international reputation, Moreno quipped: "The Philippines is safe. We welcome tourists to visit Manila" to a disbelieving Kristie Stout. Moreno not only embarrassed the Philippines on international television, but was also partly responsible for the violence, and must be censured.
Then, we must take to account members of the media, including ABS-CBN, for airing footage of events that destabilized negotiations. It was after they aired footage of Mendoza's brother being arrested that the firefight started. It also did not help that the media swooped in on the bus when Mendoza demanded a media presence, giving Mendoza an incentive to prolong the crisis for maximum media mileage. Of course, the police could have done a better job keeping the media out of the scene of the crisis, and yes, total press censorship is not something a healthy democracy should tolerate. However, any newsperson worth their salt should realize that if they air footage of a hijacker's relative being arrested, then the propensity of the said hijacker to commit violence increases exponentially.
Naturally, little was said of why Mendoza was dismissed (for extortion, by the way) and how his brother illegally resisted arrest. Finally, ABS CBN boast of possessing exclusive footage to the interior of the bus in the aftermath of the violence was not only distasteful, but also dangerous as was later proven when angry Chinese protested against the disturbance of the crime scene. The network offers an explanation for its own actions here: (
ABS-CBN to RP press: Let’s collectively decide when to stop live coverage - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos)
We have called to account those whose actions directly led to the violence at the Quirino Grandstand. However, the international incident that followed is one whose distastefulness shames those who abetted it. In the aftermath of the crisis, President Aquino expressed his condolences to the victims, promised a full investigation, fired four of the SWAT leaders directly responsible for the fiasco, and permitted Hong Kong officials, including members of INTERPOL, coroners, psychologists and doctors to fly in to Manila immediately to assist the victims. He has also announced that a high level delegation will be sent to Hong Kong to meet its Chief Executive, Donald Tsang, and to cooperate with the HK government to clarify what happened. Though Aquino was not directly responsible for the handling of the situation (the police was!), he and his national officials acted quickly to reassure the Hong Kong government that this was an isolated incident and that action would be taken. While some mistakes were made in the aftermath of the crisis, such as when a flag was draped on Mendoza's coffin in full view of the media at his funeral, and when details of Donald Tsang's call to the President were muddled, the President's actions in the wake of the crisis were responsible. This does not preclude the fact that much remains to be done however.
How did Hong Kong react? Its aforementioned Chief Executive went on TV to demand that "Philippine authorities conduct a detailed and comprehensive investigation on the incident. They must provide a full account to us as soon as possible." (
BBC News - Philippine envoys to tackle Hong Kong bus deaths anger) This, take note, was the statement of someone who is essentially a governor of an autonomous region of China, and directed at the President of our sovereign nation. Did we see Israel demand an 'immediate investigation and account' of West Germany after the massacre of its athletes at the 1972 Munich games? Did the Philippine government demand the same of China after two members of the Madrigal family were brutally murdered by an ultra-nationalist in Tiananmen Square? Did the United States demand the same of the Philippines after the kidnappings of Martin and Gracia Burnham in 2001?
No, because sovereign states do not normally order one another around in public! What made this more distasteful is the fact that Hong Kong also happens to be home to over 140,000 OFWs who work primarily in the service and housekeeping sectors. It is bad enough that our countrymen and women have already experienced cases of abuse or summary dismissal by their employers for the sole virtue of being Filipino. To have Hong Kong's government demand this, even as ours has offered its condolences and full cooperation smacks not only of perceptions of inequality between the Philippines and Hong Kong, but also of insensitivity.
Worse, the entire incident was picked up by the Hong Kong media, and has incited outrage among many Hong Kongers. Some have taken to picketing the embassy, with placards such as this one: "Cold-blooded Aquino – Go to hell" (
BBC News - Philippine envoys to tackle Hong Kong bus deaths anger) On social networking sites such as Facebook, some have taken to extremes, such as demanding the deportation of all Filipinos from Hong Kong.
Some of the more extreme reactions of Hong Kongers on Facebook.
Hong Kong's media was quick to pick up on the issue and to sensationalize it, illustrating how excess is not the sole preserve of the Philippine media. The internet is ablaze with a video produced by The Apple Daily, a HK tabloid, that illustrates and dramatizes how the hostages were killed. (
YouTube - Anime Reenactment of Philippines Hostage Crisis which results 9 dead and several wounded) Needless to say, the graphic depictions of the deaths of the hostages has inflamed anger against the Philippines in that city. Even Senator Estrada was not exempted from becoming a target of anger, as was illustrated in an article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer: (
Jinggoy Estrada suffers HK’s wrath - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos). Whatever our opinions are of Senator Estrada, what happened to him is a blemish on the professionalism of Hong Kong's civil servants.
What makes this even more tragic is that the Hong Kong government only belatedly issued a statement that Filipino workers in Hong Kong should not be blamed for our government's actions. This, after picketing at the embassy, cases of abuse by employers, and after Hong Kong imposed a 'black travel warning' on the Philippines, putting us at a 'higher risk level' than either Iran or Pakistan. Considering that anti-Chinese violence has not occurred in this country for hundreds of years, even as it has in neighboring countries in recent decades, the travel ban is uncalled for. This was an isolated incident, plain and simple, which no one in the Philippines desired. With the imposition of the ban, hundreds of travel bookings have been cancelled, with a detrimental effect on our nascent tourism industry. It will take months, maybe even years before our reputation recovers, but the damage has been done.
Yet, if you were to visit the site of the violence today, you would see ordinary Filipinos, rich and poor, ethnic Chinese and not, Christian or Buddhist, all coming to pay respects to the dead. While the Police and some Filipinos were insensitive to the deaths that occurred there, many more Filipinos have lit candles, offered flowers, and prayed for the souls of the departed.
Remembrance and Mourning - by Charina de Villa
Filipinos are equally dismayed as the Hong Kongers in the performance of our police force. Condemnation has come from near and far from every section of Filipino society. <
Spot.PH | Hostage Horror: Remembrance of Things F*cked*|* FEATURED * This is A Crazy Planets *> Everyone from a tricycle driver in Coron to nationally syndicated pundits in our broadsheets have demanded that those in command of the operation be sacked and that an impartial investigation be conducted to determine what reforms should be implemented in our police force. While many have been disappointed by our government's handling of the case, we need not share its shame.
Many of us are aware of our government's shortcomings, and I would like to think that most Filipinos are rightly demanding more of our public officials. However, the self-flagellation of some Filipinos is beyond reason and should be curtailed. (
The Daily Tribune <<< Without Fear or Favor >>>) There have been public apologies by many Filipinos for the incident, (
South China Morning Post (HK) editorial on Manila bus tragedy: Wrong targets for our understandable anger | raissarobles.com) but some of them have gone beyond apologizing for our government's ineptitude to expounding on the defects of our nation, culture, and even our people. (
http://antipinoy.com/aftermath-proud-to-be-a-failipino) This is not only over-the-top, but also harmful. The fact that many of these commentaries are published in English and can thus be read by an international audience in this age of global communications means that others can read what we say about ourselves and can conclude that 'Yes, Filipinos are a hopeless lot'. This self-defeatism not only demoralizes our people, but it also creates a vicious cycle where negative perceptions spawn pessimistic commentary, which then discourages investment and stymies efforts at reform within the country, and thus leads to a repeat of the cycle. A 'cottage industry' of negative commentary has been fuelled by often inaccurate perceptions of the country. One piece by Daniel Wagner on the Huffington Post illustrates this point. (
Daniel Wagner: The Philippine Bus and Miss Universe) While Wagner's argument that the Philippines needs to reform has merit, his claims about the country (i.e. that the majority of Filipinos have no hope for the future; that the Philippines is self-sufficient in agriculture) are inaccurate. Fortunately, some commenters have pointed this out:
Charlie Warren's reply to Daniel Wagner's article.
However, the damage to our image by articles such as these which point out the many negative aspects of the Philippines without grounding claims in facts or examining our historical context is still considerable. One only needs to examine the twisted views that many Filipinos have of our own country as a result of a poor education in civics and history and the constant bombardment of negative commentary to see how influential the media is in shaping our national psyche.
A Filipino commenter on Wagner's article illustrating how damaged some Filipinos psyches have become.
This must end. Yes, our government should be held accountable, and yes, it should undertake genuine reforms to ensure that this must not happen again.
However, we should not let a single incident shape our opinion of who we are as a people and how we let others treat us. We have a long way to go before we become truly developed, that is true, but that is no excuse to let others (foreigners and locals alike) tell us that our country is a hopeless, violent basket case. We need to rein in some of the passions we have against our government for the sake of our international reputation, and to redirect this anger to positive contributions to our society. Write to the PNP, the DILG, and our President. Noynoy himself has opened himself to consultation from the public. By doing this, you can ensure that our society emerges from this crisis better than it was before.
When you do, write constructively, rather than heaping more abuse. They've gotten enough of that already. Aquino may not have handled the situation perfectly, but he is still our democratically elected President, chosen by a mandate conferred by us. When we tar him by insulting his intelligence, accuse him of cowardice based on unfounded rumors, or declare that he is incompetent, we not only blemish his image, but also degrade the sovereign will of the Filipino people. That includes you and me.
We must stand together as a people to change our society, both by reforming the institutions that shape our daily lives, and by portraying the best of who we are as a nation to the world.
Finally, to the international audience that may read this: I ask for tolerance and understanding. Filipinos around the world are as equally dismayed by the handling of this crisis as your people. Anger and hate directed against Filipinos abroad will beget more violence. Instead, work with us to help reform our system of governance. The developed world has experienced crises like this before, and have suffered setbacks just as we have. The best we can do is to learn from this experience so that it may never happen again. We grieve with the world, and value life as much as anyone. To see us otherwise only inflicts more pain on both sides.
*Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own.*
An analysis of the hostage crisis and the Filipinos' attitude of self-defeatism, etc.
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