General Admission
P-Noy just missed a golden chance
Al S. Mendoza
NOT a single notable government official talked to the hostage-taker.
That sealed his doom.
And the fate of several of the 25 hostages, too.
Include the backlash the whole nation had to endure on the world stage in the aftermath of the tragedy.
I wasn’t surprised at the ending at all, where eight of the 21 Hong Kong tourists died, apparently at the hands of a heavily-armed man gone berserk.
When no big fish gave importance to dismissed police Captain Rolando Mendoza (he is not my relative) in the early part of the hostage crisis, his death had become virtually a breadth away.
Tragically, his hostages, too, on August 24 when Mendoza hijacked the tourist-packed bus and had it parked in front of the Quirino Grandstand at the Luneta.
From inside the bus, he demanded for his reinstatement to the police force after he was sacked last year by the Ombudsman for alleged extortion.
It is a crazy and foolish thing to do and only those who have lost their mind would do such dastardly act.
Against this backdrop, was a psychiatrist consulted?
I guess not.
Overall, the way it had been handled by government has now become the fool-proof formula on how to mishandle a hostage-taking crisis.
The tragic ending told it all: 9 killed, including the hostage-taker.
I don’t profess to be an expert in a life-threatening crisis.
But where was Manila Mayor Lim when the crisis was on?
Nowhere to be found.
Where was General Versoza, the country’s overall police chief?
Nowhere to be found.
Where was DILG Secretary Robredo, the supposed brilliant manager who was chosen over Binay for the post due to politics?
Nowhere to be found.
Where was Defense chief Gazmin, the supposed defender of peace and security of the people?
Nowhere to be found.
Where were the congressmen and the senators?
Nowhere to be found.
Understandable, because the election is over. No need for publicity stunts anymore.
But how about those with police powers duty-bound to come to the rescue of the helpless – be they our kabaleyans or not for as long as they are on Philippine soil?
Obviously, they took the whole caboodle for granted.
And, yes, how about P-Noy?
Had it not crossed his mind that one phone call to Mendoza might have immediately solved the problem?
Who knows the hostage-taker might have been thoroughly overwhelmed with humility with the President suddenly talking to him?
If I were President, I’d do anything to save one life because I have vast powers to do it.
And never, ever underestimate the power of the President to pacify.
And remember, too, that Mendoza was a police officer. For all we know, amid those demons dancing in his mind during those crucial, deathly moments, he might have yet bowed to his superior in shame and surrendered – P-Noy being the nation’s commander in chief.
Sad to say but P-Noy missed one golden chance to show an inner self of his – that of really giving supreme value to life.
Again, if I were President, I might have even kneeled before the hostage-taker if only to plead for his surrender, telling him, “I am your President, but I beg of you to come to me and I’ll give comfort to your weary mind.”
Why not?
One life is one life is one life.
It’s all water under the bridge now, we love to say.
But then, think it over again: Where have all the officers/officials gone?
I might yet run for kapitan in October.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
