BAGASINO, ALMONRY P.

BSCRIM 3 – BLK 1

THE MANILA HOSTAGE CRISIS

00:36
At about 9 am, on the morning of August the 23rd 2010
00:41
A tour bus driver was casually resting inside a bus
00:44
waiting for the passengers to return from a tour in Fort Santiago
00:49
a well-known tourist spot in the Philippines
00:53
as tourists boarded the bus
00:55
a man in a police uniform, armed with an m16 and a handgun boarded along with the passengers
01:02
the man asked for a free ride
01:05
this alarmed the driver
01:07
Alberto Lubang, and politely declined the man's request
01:11
but it was too late
01:13
without warning, the armed man ordered the passengers to follow his instructions
01:18
and declared them, his hostages
01:26
aboard the bus are 20 tourists from Hong Kong, 3 Filipino tour guides, the driver
01:33
and the hostage taker, 55 year old Rolando Mendoza
01:38
Mendoza was a former policeman who was fired from service
01:42
because of an alleged drug violation
01:44
stripping him off from all the benefits of retirement, which is only a year away
01:49
he was known to be diligent, was respected in the police force
01:54
and was once commended as one the best policemen in the Philippines
02:00
following the announcement, Mendoza then instructed the passengers to close all the curtains
02:05
and told the driver to head to Rizal Park, a famous historical site the Philippines
02:12
At about 10 am, the bus arrived and parked in front of Quirino Grandstand
02:17
one the main attractions in the area
02:20
Mendoza then handcuffed the driver, making sure he will not escape
02:28
as word goes out, police quickly arrived to the scene
02:32
and the incident, instantly caught massive media attention worldwide
02:37
these are the catalysts for the horror that's about to unfold
02:50
Col. Orlando Yebra and Maj. Romea Salvador, Mendoza's former colleagues
02:55
were tasked to negotiate with Mendoza
03:03
Mendoza informed them that he only has one demand
03:06
to be reinstated back to the police service
03:10
and if met, Mendoza said, "I will voluntarily surrender with handcuffs on."
03:18
months before this incident
03:19
Mendoza had constantly claimed to be innocent in the charges pressed against him
03:25
repeatedly appealing to the office of the ombudsman to no avail
03:30
behind the scenes, at the side of Quirino Granstand
03:34
the Manila Police SWAT Team are preparing for the worst case scenario
03:39
rehearsing a rescue operation to save the lives of the hostages
03:44
the Special Action Force or SAF, an elite unit of the PNP, arrived at the scene
03:50
following an order from the President
03:52
taking positions, and dispersed snipers all over the Grandstand
03:58
at the same time, Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno
04:02
is on his way to the Office of the Ombudsman
04:04
to grant Mendoza's demand
04:08
At about 12 noon, following a series of negotiation
04:12
and an assurance that his case was taken to the Office of the Ombudsman
04:15
Mendoza released a total of 6 tourists and 2 Filipinos
04:21
giving hope to everyone that things are going well
04:25
however, with the media frantically covering stories left and right
04:29
it became the turning point of the whole ordeal
04:34
inside the bus Mendoza has been carefully watching all the news being reported
04:39
the bus is equipped with a television
04:42
providing Mendoza with live news coverage of everything that is going on
04:48
suddenly, Mendoza got upset
04:52
he was being presented negatively in the news
04:57
due to this, Mendoza demanded for a media to go in and do an interview
05:03
as it is significant for him to explain his side to the public
05:09
however, thinking it was unsafe the police decided not to send in the media
05:17
at about 1:30 in the afternoon, after hours of waiting for the media to come
05:22
Mendoza's patience was put to the test
05:26
because his demands were not answered
05:28
Mendoza posted two shocking signs at the window
05:32
that says: MEDIA NOW and 3:00 PM DEAD LOCK
05:38
Mendoza told the negotiators that if his demands are not met
05:42
he will execute one person
05:44
as Mendoza handcuffed a tour guide along the bus door
05:55
as the police were scrambling to ease the tension
05:58
at about 2 pm, an unexpected guest sneaked into the scene
06:05
police were quick to identify the man as his brother
06:08
SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza
06:12
Major Salvador immediately approached Gregorio
06:18
according to Gregorio, he was there to help talk his brother out of it
06:24
however, a gun was found in his holster
06:27
alarming Major Salvador for a possible conspiration
06:31
quickly disarming Gregorio right in front of his brother
06:37
after the commotion subsided the police asked for gregorio to help them
06:41
and ask his brother to extend the deadline
06:57
moments after at the office of the ombudsman Vice Mayor Isko Moreno calls Mendoza
07:04
and informed him that his case is already taking progress
07:10
unexpectedly, at about 6 pm
07:13
a radio station was able to contact Mendoza and did a live interview
07:40
at the same time, the decision of the ombudsman arrived at the scene
07:46
immediately, it was handed to Mendoza by the negotiators and Medoza's brother, Gregorio
07:54
unfortunately, Mendoza did not like what the letter says
08:39
after Mendoza's outrage, the negotiators tried to calm him down by proposing a solution
08:46
Colonel Yebra told Mendoza that he will convince his boss to issue an order
08:52
to suspend the implementation of the penalty
08:55
surprisingly, Mendoza accepted the proposal
09:00
however, Colonel Yebra superiors Mayor Lim and Ground Commander General Magtibay
09:06
failed to reach an agreement to suspend the implementation
09:12
the said superiors then decided to discuss the matter
09:15
at a restaurant nearby
09:19
back at the grandstand, the media were uncontrollably competing for the best live coverage
09:27
revealing critical information on air
09:30
including the existence and positions of snipers
09:38
inside the bus, Mendoza sees everything
09:55
at the same time, hidden from the crowd
09:58
the police are trying to arrest Gregorio Mendoza
10:02
the media were then quick to respond
10:06
pointing their cameras to Mendoza's distressed brother
10:15
but why?
10:19
earlier, after the negotiation between Colonel Yebra and Mendoza
10:24
as they were about to leave
10:26
Mendoza asked a chilling question
10:30
did they already return his brother's firearm
10:34
to which Yebra lyingly answered: yes
10:38
but Gregorio revealed that it was not yet returned
10:42
and it enraged Mendoza
10:51
back at the scene, the police are trying to arrest Gregorio for bringing a firearm
10:56
to a hostage scene, conspiring and for disrupting negotiation
11:05
meanwhile, inside the bus
11:08
Mendoza's temper reached its peak
12:30
at the driver's seat, driver Alberto Lubang is struggling to escape from the handcuffs
12:37
miraculously, he was able to escape
13:10
assuming everyone inside the bus are dead
13:12
the SAF are already waiting for the order to conduct an assault
13:18
however, Ground Commander General Magtibay has a different plan for the situation
13:25
surprisingly, General Magtibay orders not the SAF but the Manila Police SWAT Team
13:31
to conduct the operation
13:33
this surprised even the SWAT, considering they lack equipment
13:38
and the SAF were more suitable for the job
13:42
with the order received the SWAT then
13:44
enters the scene
14:09
the SWAT tried to break the bus windows just as rehearsed
14:12
but the glasses were a lot stronger than the one they used for practice
14:25
a SWAT member then tries to break the door to gain entry
14:29
but it was harder than they thought
14:34
inside the bus, Mendoza sees their every move
14:38
and tries to fight
14:46
with the whole world watching, the SWAT tries another plan
14:50
they tied the door to a police mobile to break it open
14:54
but along the way the rope snapped
14:59
after the series of failed plans and the overwhelming pressure of the situation
15:05
the SWAT finally accepted suggestions from the media
15:11
the plan is to use the bus's emergency exit for entrance
15:15
which the SWAT then put into action
15:19
the SWAT enters
15:23
as the SWAT member scans the bus
15:26
Mendoza opens fire
15:32
fortunately no one was injured
15:35
most of the bullets missed the SWAT member
15:38
with only one bullet hitting his helmet
15:41
saving him
15:44
after none of the plans worked
15:46
an order was received from a new ground commander
15:50
it was to let the Special Action Force take over the situation
15:56
as the SAF took over
15:57
a plan was quickly formulated
16:00
it was to force Mendoza out into the open
16:03
and let the snipers get a clean shot
16:09
to do this
16:10
a tear gas was thrown at the rear of the bus
16:32
the tear gas chokes Mendoza and forces him to retreat in front of the bus
16:41
meanwhile, the snipers scattered throughout the grandstand
16:44
notices small movements inside the bus
16:49
gradually gaining visibility with every step of the perpetrator
16:54
as Mendoza reaches the front
16:58
a sniper took aim
17:02
and fired
17:19
it was over
17:21
Rolando Mendoza is dead
17:30
it was reported that a single shot to the head from the sniper
17:34
killed Mendoza instantly
17:45
the incident left nine people dead including Mendoza
17:53
rescuers then were shocked, as they discovered
17:56
that there are still eight people alive inside
18:18
a number of questions are still asked by many up to this day
18:24
will the outcome be different if the officials listened to his demands?
18:31
will the victims survive if the media did not interfere?
18:38
or would the whole incident never have happened
18:42
if someone just listened

Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_QY2hTsU0s&t=882s