Hostage Taking In Manila: Making sense out of a cacophony of thoughts and voices

(previously published at the Mill Woods Mosaic, Sept 15 2010 issue)

Last August 23, dismissed Filipino police officer Rolando Mendoza hijacked a tourist bus in Manila and held its passengers hostage, in a bid to get reinstated. Mendoza and eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in the ensuing crisis.

Hong Kong was livid. China and the United States were quick to condemn the Philippines in letting this tragedy take place. Filipinos were equally divided in their opinions. Many of us expressed shame and horror over this, while others try to see beyond the fiasco into what’s good and positive about the country. People from other parts of the world, those who never had a good opinion of the Philippines to start with, take this as further proof that the Filipinos --- sooner or later --- are all going to hell in a hand basket.

My personal reaction is a whole slew of violent and depressing thoughts, some of which aren’t fit to be printed in this newspaper. But mainly, extreme sadness over the fact that eight innocent tourists died, and that whatever happens afterwards, no amount of rhetoric, condemnation or apologies could bring their lives back.

On a brighter side, President Benigno Aquino III has taken responsibility for the hostage taking and apologized for it. Forensic experts from Hong Kong were allowed into the country to examine the ill-fated tourist bus and other evidence. People have begun the slow process of healing.

The fall-out: Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong now fear for their jobs, and at least two had been sent back home since. Tourism in the Philippines has suffered. According to various Philippine resorts, cancelled foreign bookings run up to millions of pesos.

Rolando Mendoza, on the other hand, was given a well-attended funeral in his hometown. Guilty or fall guy, but obviously a man who felt he had nothing to lose, Rolando Mendoza did one good thing for the Philippines by dying for his cause. Mendoza brought to light the sorry state of the Philippine police force: the corruption in the ranks and their lack of proper training in handling such emergency circumstances. In so doing, perhaps his death would encourage the Philippine government to bring about an overhaul of the system.

That there is much corruption in the police force is common knowledge. In fact, a member of my own family had been a recipient of unfair police treatment three months ago, and was so traumatized he still had nightmares about it today. The car this man was driving got involved in a minor collision with another vehicle. Damage to the other car wasn’t huge, and its driver agreed to settle the matter for a reasonable amount.

Unfortunately, a policeman arrived on the scene and despite being told by the aggrieved party that he wasn’t pressing charges, the cop hauled my relative to jail and told him this was an issue he had to settle with the arresting officer. The price he needed to pay to get out of prison was quoted. Then said officer went home, and left my relative to stew overnight in the cell to show he meant business. I won’t tell you how my relative got out, but suffice to say, the whole thing left him and the rest of the family afraid and distrustful of anyone in police uniform.

I’m not saying that every policeman is corrupt. I’ve met a few who can’t be bribed and influenced. But imagine for a moment how hard it will be to survive honestly in a dangerous and horribly underpaid job; how your paycheck will fare against the constantly soaring price of commodities. Imagine how far you will go to level that discrepancy, while you watch everyone else trying to make an extra dishonest peso and getting away with it. What are the odds that you will, one day, be tempted to cross the same line?

Something needs to be done about the situation of law enforcement in the country. I have a suggestion: why not print up a gazillion of peso bills and raise the salary of every public servant in the Philippines, but in return, hold them responsible to the people. Train them well. Institute zero tolerance on corruption. That’s what Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew did to stem the rising tide of corruption in Singapore, decades ago. On the other hand, easy for me to say. Singapore is a tiny place.

Having said all these, I’m still proud to be a Filipino.