Manila hostage crisis

mass murder in Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila, Phillipines on August 23, 2010

The Manila hostage crisis (Tagalog: Pagbibihag ng bus sa Maynila; Chinese: 馬尼拉人質事件) happened on August 23, 2010. A man who had been fired from the Philippine National Police, Rolando del Rosario Mendoza, boarded a tourist bus in Rizal Park and took the passengers hostages.[1] Nine people (including 8 tourists from Hong Kong, killed by Mendoza, and Mendoza himself) were killed in the incident.[2]

The bus where the crime happened

Since some Hong Kong people blamed the Philippine Government for not handling the incident properly, the relationship between Hong Kong and the Philippines had become much worse.

Background change

Murderer change

Rolando del Rosario Mendoza was formerly a policeman. In 2008, he was fired because of complaints that he forced an arrested chef to admit drug trafficking that he had not done.[3][4]

When he came aboard the tourist bus, he posted a sticker to the bus stating "BIG MISTAKE TO CORRECT A BIG WRONG DECISION".

Tour group change

The tour group was held by Hong Thai Travel. It set off on 20 August. The day when the incident happen was the last day of the tour.[5] That day was also the Ghost Festival of China.

Process change

About 10 o'clock, Mendoza boarded the bus.[5] At that time, he let the tour guide and the hostage contact their households. The tour guide, Tse Ting Chunn, phoned the Assistant Manager, "依家有咗好大鑊嘅問題……有個軍人上咗我部車挾持咗我哋成部車,佢有兩把槍。(There is a serious incident. A solider came apart our bus and took us as hostage. He has two gun.)" The manager told him to make the tourist be calm.[6]

At 2 pm, a younger brother of Mendoza came. A police officer took his gun. Mendoza got angry and shouted.[7] At 9 pm, he started killing the tourists. First, he killed the tour guide. Next, he shot at Yik Siu Ling. She pretended to be dead.[8] Then, some of the tourists decided to subdue him, but they were shot.[9] After that, he kept on shooting at the tourists.

About 7 pm, The Philippine National Police signed the reinstatement order of Mendoza. However, because of the traffic jam, the document wasn't deliver to him on time. When the document was delivered, he had already killed many tourists.[7]

Deaths and injured people change

 
List of deaths in a hospital

The tour guide and six tourists who were shot by Mendoza died. Mendoza was shot dead by the police afterwards. Seven tourists were hurt. Some of them underwent surgery.[10] Mike Yadrillo y Campanero, a citizen in the Philippines and a staff of TVB were also injured during the shootings.[11][12][13][14]

Aftermath change

Investigation change

The government of the Philippines agreed that the killed tourists were murdered.

Sanctions against the Philippines change

On 5 November 2013, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, CY Leung, has claimed that if no progress are made in a month, there will be sanctions against the Philippines.[15]

On 29 January 2014, Hong Kong has canceled visa-free privileges for Philippine officials.[16] However, Aquino III, the president of the Philippines, still refuses to apologize for the incident.[17]

Hacking change

The official website of Bulacan, a city of the Philippines, was hacked. The background music was changed to the national anthem of the People's Republic of China and text was added which requested the government to apologize.[18]

Funeral and other matters change

After the accident, some of the bodies of the killed tourists had been mixed up. Also, the staff of the funeral house opened the coffins and let journalists take photos. Such events made the Hong Kong people very more angry.[19] Ironically, Mendoza's funeral was held at his home and his coffin was covered by the national flag of the Philippines. This added anger to the people of Hong Kong.[20] A "netizen" of Hong Kong even joked that the Philippine flag could be used as doormat.[21]

The Philippine Government said that the flag was used improperly. They had already asked the households of Mendoza to remove the flag.[22]

Tse Ting Chunn, the tour guide, was buried in Diamond Hill Crematorium.[23] Three tourist were buried at St. Raphael's Catholic Cemetery temporarily. The others were buried in Tribute Garden.[24]

Criticism to the incident handling change

Philippine Police change

The Philippine Police were criticized for the followings:

  • They did not know how to enter the bus to rescue. Someone from the transport industry said that there was button outside the bus that could open the door easily.[25]
  • They had had many chances to shoot Mendoza but they did not do so.[26][27][28] A security analyst, who had worked in the British Army and Scotland Yard, said that the Philippine Police should not give away such chances easily as they were dealing with an unpredictable and irrational man.[29]
  • As Mendoza just wanted to attract attention to what had happened to him, the police should not have annoyed him by rejecting his request of having somebody to review his case.[30]
  • They did not have enough equipment to carry out a rescue.[31]
  • Some "netizens" in Hong Kong found that the Philippine Police destroyed the windows where a note that was posted by Mendoza was stuck. The note was about a case which made him lost his job.[32]

Rescue operation units change

When a injured tourist was on an ambulance, he asked for a bandage. However, a nurse told him to cover the wound himself.[33][34]

Another injured tourist was sent to the Manila Doctors Hospital. However, a guard didn't let her in. Finally, when she was being transferred to the Manila City Hospital, she died.[35]

Mourning change

Hong Kong change

The Government had set up public places for mourning, and also a Facebook page.[36][37]

Mourning masses were held in churches.

Many websites of Hong Kong turned their logos gray. "A Symphony of Lights", a firework and light show held every evening at 8:00 pm in Hong Kong was suspended.[38]

A joint demonstration march was held by the policial parties such as the Democratic Party, the Civic Party, Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, and Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong.[39]

The Philippines change

On 25 August, different religious organizations held Puja and mass. Upajjhayas of Fo Guang Shan, a Taiwanese temple, prayed for peace. The Archbishop of Manila led a prayer and 200 police officers lit candles for the dead in a mourning ceremony.[40][41]

Macau change

Fernando Chui Sai On, chief executive of Macau, wrote a condolence letter to Donald Tsang, the Chief Executive of Hong Kong then.[42] The Encyclopedia of Virtual Communities in Macau turned its logo gray.[43]

Legal action change

In 2013, household of the died tour guide and some of the injured filed a petition to the High Court. The petition is against the government of the Philippines, former mayor of Manila and 7 other units.[44][45]

Two of the injured also filed a petition, but it was against Hong Thai Travel.[46][47]

Effect on the tourist industry change

At 21:45 on 23 August 2008, Security Bureau had raised the Outbound Travel Alert for the Philippines to Black.[48]

In the first two months after the incident, 4000 pesos of tourist receipts were lost.[49] In August 2010, about 12,000 tourists were from Hong Kong. However, in September, there were only about 7000 tourists from Hong Kong.[50]

Controversies in the Internet change

Jackie Chan, an actor, said that Hong Kong people had forgiven the Philippine Police.[51] Many "netizens" in Hong Kong disagreed his comment and condemned him.[52] Later, his blog had an entry about his own café in the Philippines welcomed by the Philippine policemen.[53] He later apologized.[54]

One year after the crime, Wong Koon Chung, a singer, said that he would support killing the Philippine President Aquino III and cursing him with foul language.[55] He later took back his speech.[56]

Reaction change

A Hong Kong TV station, TVB, played Can't Buy Me Love, a comedy, after the live show of the hostage incident. TVB had received complaints afterwards.[57]

However, there were comments that comedies could make the audience relaxed.[58][59]

References change

  1. "Ex-cop holds tourist bus passengers hostage in Manila". GMA News. 2010-08-23.
  2. "Bloody end to Philippines hostage drama". CNN. 2010-08-23.
  3. "菲律宾劫持游客嫌犯曾为功勋警官 因勒索被解雇". 2010-08-24. Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2013-08-22.
  4. "中国政府强烈谴责菲律宾歹徒暴行 要菲方书面解释". 新京报. 2010-08-24. Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2013-08-22.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "馬尼拉康泰團遇槍手挾持及殺戮經過". 東方日報.
  6. "謝廷駿最後通話:好大鑊". 星島日報. 2011-02-16.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Emile Guert (2011-08-07). Manila Hostage Massacre (Youtube). History Channel Asia: Ten Alps Asia.
  8. 易小玲:「叫我宜家點見人?」下顎中槍毀容一字一淚哭訴, 星島日報
  9. 門多薩一步一槍「行刑」 陳國柱憶傅卓仁梁錦榮衝前「肉搏」慘遭射殺, 星島日報
  10. "馬尼拉人質慘劇頭部中槍 Jason留醫三年 仍靠輪椅代步". 蘋果日報. 2013-08-21.
  11. TVB (2010-08-23). "TVB evening news report" (in Chinese). TVB. Archived from the original on 2012-06-19. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  12. 我想康泰解釋一下以下菲律賓差館嘅文件 « MO's notebook 3 to 4
  13. "記者中流彈擦傷 裝器材鐵箱當護盾". 明報. 2010-08-24. Archived from the original on 2010-08-27. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  14. "TVB採訪隊員肚皮中流彈". 蘋果日報. 2010-08-24. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
  15. "特首:一個月無成果制裁菲律賓". 香港政府新聞網. 2013-11-05.
  16. Ada Lee. "Hong Kong cancels visa-free privileges for Philippine officials and diplomats".
  17. "阿基諾堅拒就人質事件道歉". 2014-02-05.
  18. "黑客攻陷菲國網頁抗議". 蘋果日報. 2010-08-28. Archived from the original on 2010-08-29. Retrieved 2010-08-28.
  19. "脅持人質慘劇慘上慘 菲律賓調亂三遺體 累家人迎錯靈柩". Archived from the original on 2013-11-22. Retrieved 2013-08-21.
  20. "屠夫蓋國旗 人神共憤".
  21. Discuss in Baby Kingdom
  22. "中國譴責魔警棺蓋國旗 菲政府承認不當 已指示家屬移走". 蘋果日報. 2010-08-28.[permanent dead link]
  23. 暫有一家庭願葬親景仰園 社署聯絡多部門 照料汪家遺孤, 星島日報
  24. 四名遇難者 安葬景仰園, 蘋果日報
  25. "運輸業界:太平門可按掣開". 2010-08-24.
  26. "記者直擊 警屢失生擒良機". 東方日報.
  27. "Hong Kong angry, sad at handling of Manila siege". CNN. 2010-08-24. "Is there only one ax in the Philippines?" "Why didn't the police shoot the gunman earlier?" said one comment posted in a forum, The Standard reported.
  28. "兩度錯過制服槍手 破窗竟花半小時 菲警遲鈍害命中港追究". 蘋果日報. 2010-08-24.[permanent dead link]
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  30. "犯罪學家轟菲國談判失策". 蘋果日報. 2010-08-24. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
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  32. "網絡驚爆!菲警救人先毀證?". 2010-08-24.[permanent dead link]
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  35. 脅持慘劇菲報告稱首間醫院拒收轉送途中沒心跳 楊綺華疑失救枉死, 蘋果日報
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  37. 約三萬八千人簽署弔唁冊悼念在菲遇難港人
  38. 「幻彩詠香江」暫停
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  40. "菲政府辦彌撒悼遇難港人". 香港商報.
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  43. 新聞動態/備份1
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  49. "中港遊客退房 菲旅館業者損百萬". 中國報. 2010-09-15. Archived from the original on 2010-09-21. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  50. "菲47萬元聘港公關救旅業". 太陽報. 2011-03-28.
  51. 成龍盼平息港菲仇怨 「別擔心,我們沒有憎恨」, 星島日報
  52. 成龍被屈撐菲警 慘變箭靶, 太陽報
  53. "成龍瞎挺菲律賓 被揭為私利 曾志偉譙「應道歉」". 2010-08-27. Archived from the original on 2020-03-28. Retrieved 2013-08-23.
  54. 成龍發聲明拆彈 免愈描愈黑, 太陽報
  55. 黃貫中微博斥阿奎諾三世 「誰要暗殺你我出錢」, 蘋果日報
  56. 阿Paul坐監都要鬧爆菲總統, 星島日報
  57. "無綫播《公主嫁到》接投訴". 太陽報. 2010-08-25.
  58. "影迷情琛——公主嫁到". 頭條日報. 2010-08-27.
  59. "陳豪佘詩曼催谷新劇 《公主嫁到》歡樂勵志". 2010-08-30. Archived from the original on 2010-09-05. Retrieved 2013-08-23.

Other websites change

Appendix change

Official reports and statement of the government change

Videos on YouTube change

Data provided by the Hong Thai Travel change