By Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America Bureau
Aug. 24, 2010
San Francisco Int’l Airport – Chinese-American Mao Van was on his way to Manila last night for a one-week vacation. His wife and children, who are already there, reminded him to be careful.
“I’m not riding any tourist buses while I’m there, “said Van.
Last Sunday, a dismissed Filipino policeman took siege of a tourist bus carrying 22 tourists from Hong Kong that was parked at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. After a 12-hour standoff with the police, eight Hong Kong tourists lost their lives.
The Chinese government condemned this act, demanding answers from the Philippine government.
Hundreds of protesters held a demonstration in front of the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong, criticizing the Philippine Police for botched negotiations with the gunman, Rolando Mendoza.
Flags in Hong Kong were also lowered half-mast to mourn and honor the deaths of the eight tourists.
Phil Bourekas said he’s aware of the Chinese government warning people not to travel to the Philippines.
Bourekas dropped off his wife, Remy at the airport last night. While in the Philippines, Remy said she plans to visit tourist destinations. She said, “I’m not scared.”
While he’s concerned for his wife’s safety, Bourekas said he still thinks the Philippines is a safe place.
He said, “No additional concerns based on that. Workplace violence happens all over the world, including the U.S. and that’s what this looks like.”
The Sinson family is originally from Manila. They said there’s no safer place than home.
Anne Sinson said, “Manila is safe. Anytime, I would not hesitate to go home.”
Frequent travelers Pat Roche and his family have never been to the Philippines. But they were alarmed when they heard about tourists getting shot there.
Roche said, “It’s a sad day for Manila, for the Philippines, for the victims. But it will not stop me from traveling to Manila in the future.”
It remains to be seen whether the bloody hostage crisis in Manila would impact the tourism industry in the Philippines. Tourism officials say about 140,000 Hong Kong tourists visit the Philippines every year.
For now, President Benigno Aquino III has presented the Philippines’ preliminary investigation on the hostage crisis to the Chinese ambassador.
Vice-President Jejomar Binay and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo plan to fly to Beijing and Hong Kong and meet with Chinese officials once the final report is done.
The idea sure is definitely interestng, I am hoping I know that sooner.
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To the Chinese People,i know millions of us Filipinos are sorry for what happened..We are sorry and we are bereaved with you..
To The Chinese People,Please don’t think that all Filipinos are not good.In every country there is always good and bad.We are not responsible for other peoples’ actions just like other nations..Nobody wanted this to happen.
@MAKABAYAN, ang ilong ko matangos…siguro ikaw malakamatis ang ilong mo kaya galit na galit ka dyan…hahahaha!!! Sabihin mo nga sa akin…saan ka nakakita ng ang mga istudyante at mga kapulisan eh nag picture taking na ang background pa eh yung bus na hinostage at mga naka ngiting aso pa ang mga hinayupak na para bang nangbubunyi sa kasiyahan na may namatay doon sa bus na yun… ganyan ba ang gusto mong mangyari? BOBO at INUTIL ka!!!
@MAKABAYAN. Gumising ka. Did u not see what happened? Are you so proud of what our cops did? Our cops who is supposed to protect every citizen in our country. Visitors or not. Just because we questions their motives and their actions you start calling us traitors!!! Are we not allowed to express our dismay? Should we just shut up? By us raising our voices hopes that they do it differently next time. It seems Like you agreed on what our cops did. If you do kakahiya ka.
Are you also proud of what our kababayans did right after, when they started running towards the bus obstracting the rescue? Taking pictures using their cellphones? Kakahiya ka pre! Calling us traitors!
Maybe we want the opposite. We want it to be strong in security and not to be bopols the way you wanted it to be.
Filipinos are extending their sympathies and condolences to the bereaved families of Hong Kong tourists that became victims of the latest isolated incident in Manila. Philippines felt so sorry about the tragedy and hoping Hong Kong Chinese won’t get carried
away by their emotions venting their anger and frustrations by smearing and throwing verbal abuse to the Filipino workers in Hong Kong. Those workers in your country are doing decent jobs like (maids, entertainers, industrialists, engineers, etc.) got nothing to do to the incident.
There was an old saying, quote “ a mistake can’t be corrected by doing another mistake”, unquote. If Hong Kongers’ thought of sending these workers back in their home country and breach their contract, is that would make them happy and serve better to both
parties? However it’s Hong Kong government and its people call. Remember everyone needs one another to survive.
Mr. Tsang, first man’s of Hong Kong government subsequently issued a travel warning, advising Hong Kong residents to scrap any Philippines holiday plans. True the first man is thinking the safety of his citizens. But as I said, that type of tragedy is an isolated
incident. Lightning don’t strike the same place twice. I believe people in Hong Kong are forgiving but not forgetting. Thank you.
Narra
British Columbia, Canada
CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILIES OF THE HOSTAGE VICTIMS MAJORITY OF US COULD FEEL YOUR PAIN AND SADNESS.OUR PRAYERS. TO ALL MY STUPID AND UNPATRIOTIC KABABAYANS INSTEAD OF BASHING YOUR COUNTRY WHY DON’T YOU HELP YOUR KABABAYANS NA MAKABANGON..I HAVE ONE WORD FOR YOU’HUMILITY” ANG ALAM LANG NINYO MAGTATALAK PARANG LATANG WALANG LAMAN MAS MAINGAY.TRAITORS.BAKIT FEELING BA NINYO BANYAGA KAYO KUNG SIRAAN NINYO SARILI NINYONG BANSA.TUMINGIN NGA KAYO SA SALAMIN MGA PANGO ILONG NINYO.
I am also very disappointed of the government especially the President!!!! yon ba ang pinag mamalaki nang buong Pilipinas, where are the good advisors, nakakahiya kayo!!! dapat lang na walang pupunta da Pilipinas para mataohan ang government to do their job…..kakahiya kayo…
Wala kasing training ang mga kapulisan sa Philippines kaya nangyari ang ganyan…paano ba naman ang training nila ay sa mga video machine lang na hinuhulugan ng coin so paanong magkakaroon ng training ang mga yan. Ang mga bodega hanggang ngayon malalaki pa rin. Nawala lang si Lacson eh naglalakihan pa rin ang mga bodega ng mga hinyupak na mga pulis!
To the Media. It is a shame that you don’t even control what you show to the world. You even seem to be proud to show that the murderer had a flag in the wake. I am truly embarrased by the actions. I was totally shocked by the students having their pictures taken in the scene of the crime. EMBARASSING. The people should apologize to all of Hongkong. What a shame. You didn’t even realize that their is so much Filipino nationals who work in HONGKONG that even threatens not only their jobs but also their well being. I think those people who had their pictures taken should be questioned and jailed for their actions. You made it such a fiasco. You have no shame.BongBong Marcos needs to follow his father’s footsteps and wip the country and get it back in line.
My sincere condolence to the families who now are suffering for their lost. It is a shame to the Filipino community not only in the country but to all those who live out of the country. It is even worst for us who live outside the country representing our heritage. It is such a great dishonor for those of us to be humiliated with a crime we never committed. I am truly embarrased by the actions of the people back home. The country itself lost its dignity. I feel that Marcos has done a great job controlling the people with his dictatorship to place everyone in their proper place. Yun ang tama at dapat.
Outrageous po! Outrageous ang proseso ng mga pulis. Nagkamali si G. Mendoza. Nagkamali pa rin ng pagresponde ang ating mga pulis. Katawa tawa ang kanilang strategy. O walang strategy.
Tama. Bakit hinuli ang kapatid ni Mendoza sa kainitan ng negosasyon?
And a Bagatsing says ‘ kasalanan ng media’ bakit lalo nagalit ang hostage taker. KALOKOHAN. G. Bagatsing, wala ka bang masising iba?
Di bale, pinatawa naman namin ang buong mundo. At least may pakinabang ang mga pulis sa buong mundo. Marunong sila magpatawa kasi style clown process nila.
Ibinoto nyo kasi PENOY na BAKLA so magtiis kayo sa mga inasal at iaasal pa ng BAKLA sa mga darating na panahon.
I feel so embarassed the way the government handled this hostage situation.It is so amateurish. There was no command responsibility at all. Frankly, I was disappointed with our Presidents handling of the situation (before and after). He showed indifference and no wonder people of Honkong are so mad at him .It was not a time to smile and he should have tried to look solemn and stern during his interview. They could just lied and told the hostage taker that they will give his job back to save the lives of these poor tourists.Afterwards, they can court martial him and let him pay for the consequence of his actions. It is as simple as that. What kind of officials we have and the country is paying the price. I hope Noy Aquino can show more leadership next time a crisis face our nation. It looks like he does not have good advisers around him I hope that this MAJOR MAJOR mistake taught the leaders of the country a very valuable lesson.
Again, it shows we Filipinos are always caught unprepared by any eventuality, either man-made or caused by nature. At lagi nalang, ang sisihan at imbestigasyon as laging nasa huli. Noong binira ang Pilipinas ni Ondoy at Pepeng, hindi rin tayo handa, at ngayon sa hostage crisis, masyadong magulo ang sitwasyon at halatang hindi kontrolado ng otoridad ang sitwasyon.
We cant blame the Chinese people in condemning our inept and inefficient police forces and also for attacking our president in this tragedy.
Simple lang ang solusyon dito para hindi na maulit at tulyang masira ang kredibilidad ng Pilipinas sa buong mundo. The government should implement mandatory calamity preparedness program and complete overhaul of our police force.
Gastusan ng gobyerno ang seguridad hindi lamang ng ating bansa mula Jolo hanggang Batanes , kundi pati rin ang mga bumibisita sa ating bansa.
Kong balikan natin ang pangyayari, noong kasalukuyang nagkakaroon ng negosasyon, pinakawalan ng hostage taker ang ilan sa mga hostages. Nakikita natin ang kanyang re-action noong binuksan niya ang pintuan ng Bus at pinababa ang ilang hostages, na kalmante lang siya at walang balak saktan ang mga hostages although meron siyang binitawan na mga salita.
Sa tingin ko, itong nangyaring hostage crisis na ito, hindi natin kailangan ang makabagong gamit or strategy ng pagsalakay. Ang kulang nila dito ay yong pakalmahin ang hostage taker, pero kabaligtaran ang ginawa ng mga pulis. noong inaresto nila ang pulis na kapatid ng hostage taker at kasama ang mga miyembro ng pamilya na pinaghihila ng mga pulis. Pagkatapos ng eksenang yon, ay saka tayo nakarinig ng sunod-sunod na putok sa loob ng Bus…..Ang puwersahang pag-aresto sa kapatid ng Hostage taker at kasamang pinaghihila ang mga miyembro ng pamilya ang nag TRIGGER sa hostage taker para magwala.
Naniniwala ako na kulang sa training ang ka pulisan natin pero nasisiguro ko na na-encounter nila sa training nila kong paano pakalmahin ang hostage taker……….Ang nakakapagtaka, bakit ginalit nila ang hostage taker sa pamamagitan ng pag-aresto nila sa kapatid niya. Hindi ba, mas nakatulong sana kong hinayaan nilang mag-usap ang magkapatid.
Dapat lang na masibak ang mga namunong pulis sa hostage crisis. Pinalala lang nila ang situwasyon para magwala ang hostage taker. Sigurado kong alam nila na magagalit ang hostage taker sa pag-aresto nila sa kanyang kapatid. …….Ang tanong bakit ganon ang ginawa nila….. dahil sila’y mga trigger happy…..para matuloy ang action…….. or merong may galit sa kanila sa hostage taker dahil siya’y dating commander din.
@anonynimous. Hindi pa tapos ang imbistigasyon. But I definitely would like to go to the bottom of this. There’s a lot of questions that needs answers.
1. Bakit local PNP? Why not use SWAT team?
2. What was the reason of them arresting his brother?
3. Who authorize the use of gas with live hostages still inside?
4. Why use flash bang without even entering the bus?
5. Where are the protective vest of the cops?
Why is their equipment not enough?
6. Wh not cordon the place so no civilian and media can come closer?
Shouldnt they think about that so medical ambulances and other necesarry personel can assist without any people blocking their way.
Mga usesero’s! Every second counts to those victims. Nahihirapang lumapit at lumabas ang mga ambulansya sa dami ng Tao. Nakakahiya kayo.
Overall job was lousy and poor. We need a revamp on our rescue.
it will shake up all of us because we are the process of changing our country all we have to do now is pray and help our govt. to be succesful in a peaceful way, we have to pray our rosary everyday because if we want our country to change in a better pilipino we have to help each other and pray for our pilipino fellowmen to be safe always and guide them to the right path,we do not want satan to be succesful we have to stop this pray,pray always
Tama lang ang ginawa ng China na hwag na munang mag travel ng Pinas dahil delikado ang buhay ng mga tourist sa kamay ng mga Authoridad… Di maganda ang ginawa nilang pag spray ng bullet sa bus na alam naman nilang maraming madadamay ng hostage sa loob ng sasakyan. Iisa lang ang kalaban nila eh pero ang bala kung saan saan lumusot sa bintana. Kulang sila sa utak…ang ginamit nila ay puro dahas…ang katuwiran kasi ng mga hinayupak na yan eh basta mapatay nila ang nang-hostage eh sapat na sila sa ganun…tamaan ang tatamaan wala silang pakialam!
Sorry may maling spelling kaya inulit ko ito.
Tama lang ang ginawa ng China na hwag na munag mag travel ng Pinas dahil delikado ang buhay ng mga tourist sa kamay ng mga Authoridad… Di maganda ang ginawa nilang pag spray ng bullet sa bus na alam naman nilang maraming madadamay ng hostage sa loob ng sasakyan. Iisa lang ang kalaban nila eh pero ang bala kung saan saan lumusok sa bintana. Kulang sila sa utak…ang ginamit nila ay puro dahas…ang katuwiran kasi ng mga hinayupak na yan eh basta mapatay nila ang nang-hostage eh sapat na sila sa ganun…tamaan ang tatamaan wala silang pakialam!