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HK Bus Hostage Tragedy 2010 (aftermath. etc.); updates, discussions
Topic Started: Aug 23 2010, 12:08 PM (6,544 Views)
Aerocobra
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Killhorn
Aug 24 2010, 01:04 PM
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My brother is a member of the New Jersey State Police SWAT unit and he said that each and everyone of them were taught location and how to open emergency exits of buses and trains. These exits can be opened from the outside in the event of accidents or hostage situations like what happened here. He was actually shouting at the TV screen as if the PNP SWAT could hear him to use the emergency exit, he was flabbergasted that the PNP doesn't know about those emergency exits.

He said if it was his SWAT doing the entry, they would have all the spotlights shut, execute rapid assault with one team to make a diversionary noisy breach at front of the bus while actual assault team open the emergency exit, pop flash bangs and gas followed immediately by two operators to take down the bad guy. Over in less than 10 minutes.
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raider1011


No clear command caused Grandstand tragedy—Biazon

MANILA, Philippines—The hostage-taking crisis at the Rizal Grandstand was the result of a police situation that had no clear person in command, Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon said Tuesday.

Biazon, chairman of the House committee on defense and national security, said a better handling of the crisis could have averted the loss of lives.

Biazon, a former senator and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief, said it should have been known from the start who was the ground commander in charge and who will decide the tactics and resources to be used, including the hostage-taker's relatives.

Directly under the ground commander should have been an experienced negotiator, who can directly communicate to the hostage-taker. Then there should have also been the tactical commander, who is in charge of the assault force.

"There should be layers of command, and not everybody can talk or negotiate with the hostage-taker. Ang daming nakisawsaw (Too many were intervening). The worst thing you can do is to confuse the hostage-taker or agitate him," Biazon said in a phone interview.

Biazon also wondered why Mendoza was still carrying firearms when he should have surrendered it when he was dismissed in February 2009.

"Who owns the gun he used? We should trace the ownership of that firearm," He added.

He said he supports the ongoing investigation ordered by President Benigno Aquino III, adding that Congress should first leave the inquiry to the proper authorities.

Biazon said the incident will be a "black eye" to the country's reputation, especially to the tourism industry.

"It will take some time to repair it," he added.


http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/...d-tragedyBiazon
God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.

|| Chester W. Nimitz

Loyalty to the Nation ALL the time, loyalty to the Government when it deserves it.

|| Mark Twain
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fatbat_mca
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biazon at his alarmist best, again.

one of our businessess is a travel agency and the manager told me that bookings from other parts of the world are still coming in, only hong kong clients have cancelled.

we even have bookings from china
oh my sofie!
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raider1011


fatbat_mca
Aug 24 2010, 02:45 PM
biazon at his alarmist best, again.

one of our businessess is a travel agency and the manager told me that bookings from other parts of the world are still coming in, only hong kong clients have cancelled.

we even have bookings from china

Unbelievable. Tikom-bibig na nga sa sinabi ng tao, maghahanap pa ng konsuelo.

So is going at it with a sledgehammer the best an "expert" can do? So many questions: what unit did the assault team belong to? How was the commander chosen? Where was PNP SAF?

So many worthwhile things to dwell on than just jumping to the defense.
God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.

|| Chester W. Nimitz

Loyalty to the Nation ALL the time, loyalty to the Government when it deserves it.

|| Mark Twain
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Tormentor
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mazingu
Aug 24 2010, 11:21 AM
Found it, posted by Saver here http://pdff.sytes.net/index.php?showtopic=4729&st=75

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why is this vehicle not present at quirino

PNP-SAF offered its own assault team which is better-equipped and better-trained than the district SWAT teams but MPD refused asserting their SWAT team can do the job as well.
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It's a bird, it's a plane...no...it's Super Trillanes!
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saver111
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Posted by maverick at the other forum (no link attached)

Quote:
 
one of the comments from yahoo, i thought it is true..




Postcripts To A BloodBath

Mr. Mendoza was already upset even before he saw on television what the policemen did to his brother. The other tourists who remained inside the bus were complaining. Wei Ji Jiang wanted to go to the bathroom. Dao Chi Yu was hungry and the rest were just groaning and whining like they have forgotten that our lives rest in Mr. Mendoza's hands.

The hostage taker, as you know him was really nice. He treated us okay and even let the elders and the children leave the bus. He said your policemen treated him unfairly. He was a policeman too and was accused of doing something he had no knowledge of. But your government didn't listen so he used us to get everyone's attention.

Things would have never turned for the worst if he didn't see how his family was dragged out of their house and taken into custody. He was watching the news all the time as we huddled around each other behind the bus. He shouted some words in your language then started shooting in the air. A girl about my age started screaming. Mr. Mendoza demanded her to stop but she didn't understand English. God, he had to slash her neck with a knife just to put her to rest. Her boyfriend who tried to hit him was shot in the head.

Tension was rising. You can see in his face how scared and confused he was. The bus driver ran away leaving him alone with strangers from a distant land. I can see him walking across the aisle, sometimes pointing his machine gun to one of the tourists. But he tried his best not to hurt us, especially those who really cooperate.

I guess its in your nature not to inflict pain on others unless it was necessary. I remember him saying that he will free us before sundown and implored us to forget everything when we return home. But his words don't matter now. The policemen were trying to force their way in, while we all lied down to shield ourselves from bullets. Mister Mendoza blindly shoots at his enemies which I think kept them from rescuing us. I hear sobs under the chairs. Some were even shouting the names of their loved ones even when the air merely eat their words. Kevin Tang tried to escape when the glass door was was shattered, but one shot and he slumped on the floor with blood gushing from his mouth.

Heavy rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop. In old Chinese saying, it means an end to a struggle. Finally, somebody was able to open the escape hatch at the back of the bus. Freedom. But I knew Mister Mendoza was still alive. I knew he was just waiting for a chance to strike back at his enemies. So I told those around me not to escape. Let the authorities come for us instead. Then there was gunfire. He was firing at his enemies with a machine gun. Those who were at the escape hatch fled abandoning us once again. It's like a nightmare with no end and to wake up means a certain death. Then somebody from outside the bus threw a canister. It forced out a black smoke that is so painful to the eyes and putrid smelling to the nose. People started screaming. We cannot breathe. Some ran in front of the bus but Mister Mendoza warned them of stray bullets. It was too late. One was hit on the head, the other was hit on the shoulders. Bullets were now flying. Its like the authorities thought we were all dead. Mister Mendoza finally admits his mistake and said sorry to everyone, dead or alive. He then ran towards the front of the bus where he would meet his maker. As he passed by my chair with bullets whistling overhead, I clutched my hand on the velvet curtain and wrapped it around my face. All I could think of was to stay alive - for my child who is waiting for me back in Xinjang. I know I will survive,

I will come home.

Bang Lu Min
Survivor, Quirino Bloodbath
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Justice for Daniel Lorenz Jacinto

HELP END PIRACY NOW!:
http://www.itfseafarers.org/petition.cfm
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fatbat_mca
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inconsistencies in the above story..

hostage with a slashed neck was male, not female

how can he see all the things that happened if he was huddled under the seat?
oh my sofie!
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Frenzy
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Tormentor
Aug 24 2010, 03:20 PM
mazingu
Aug 24 2010, 11:21 AM
Found it, posted by Saver here http://pdff.sytes.net/index.php?showtopic=4729&st=75

Posted Image

why is this vehicle not present at quirino

PNP-SAF offered its own assault team which is better-equipped and better-trained than the district SWAT teams but MPD refused asserting their SWAT team can do the job as well.

Why did not the PNP High Command ordered the MPD to accept the SAF's offer?

SAF for sure have the better equipment, they have gas masks, they have the breaching equipment and the vehicles, their operators are better trained and with the better weapons, so how come its assault team was not made the lead team instead of the MPD's clearly ill-equipped and ill-trained team?
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israeli
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Tsang slams siege tactics
Dennis Eng and Raissa Robles in Manila, Martin Wong and Tanna Chong
South China Morning Post
Tuesday, August 24, 2010


Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen criticised the handling of a hostage crisis in Manila last night in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed and two critically injured.

Police commandos stormed the tour bus on which they were being held and shot the gunman in the head.

The Chinese embassy in Manila said seven of the Hongkongers on the bus survived the dramatic siege. The names of those killed and injured were not released.

Mendoza was honoured by police chiefs in 1986 as one of the top 10 officers in the country. But he was dismissed in 2008 for alleged involvement in drug-related crimes and extortion, police said. He took the hostages in an attempt to demand his job back and to have his name cleared.

His body was seen slumped out of the shattered front door of the bus last night with a bullet wound to the head.

"It is most regrettable," said Tsang who appeared close to tears during a press conference. "The way it was handled, particularly the outcome, I find is disappointing."

Tsang said he had tried to call Philippine President Benigno Aquino but could not get through. "I hope the Philippines government can give me a full account of what happened," he said.

Thousands in Hong Kong watched as the hostage drama unfolded live on TV.

The tour group left the city for the Philippines on Friday and was originally scheduled to arrive home last night. Their tour company, Hong Thai Travel, became aware of the unfolding drama when the tour guide made a secret phone call to the company from the back of the bus, unknown to the gunman.

"We immediately called our people there and were told the police and military had already reached there," Hong Thai Travel general manager Susanna Lau Mei-sze said.

Twenty-two Hong Kong tourists and three Filipinos were aboard the bus when Mendoza seized the vehicle demanding he be reinstated. He released nine people during police negotiations, including two Filipinos.

As negotiations to free the remaining hostages failed, Mendoza threatened to kill the hostages.

"I shot two Chinese. I will finish them all if they do not stop," Mendoza told Radio Mindanao Network about 10 hours into the drama. "I can see a lot of SWAT [special weapons and tactics police] coming in. I know they will kill me. They should all leave, because anytime I will do the same here."

The Filipino driver of the bus escaped after cutting himself loose from handcuffs and screamed "Everybody is dead!" as he ran to safety.

The attempted storming of the bus after negotiations broke down turned into a debacle with commandos unable to get inside for more than an hour. They encircled the bus, smashed its windows and fired at it, but Mendoza shot back.

The crisis eventually ended when police threw tear gas inside the bus and fired again.

One woman Hong Kong survivor, whose husband was killed, demanded to know why Manila police came to their rescue so late. "It's too late. Why were there no one to help us after so many hours?" she said at the scene of the siege. "We were in fear for so many hours. I find it really cruel.

"There were so many people on the bus - no one came to our rescue. Why?

She said her husband was killed as he tried to stop Mendoza from attacking other passengers.

"He [her husband] was brave. He rushed out trying to stop the gunman from shooting. I didn't know whether the gunman was dead or not, but there had been non-stop gunshots."

Last night, she was looking for her three sons who were also on the bus, aged 14, 18, and 21, and whose conditions was not known.

"I really wanted to hold my husband and die with him, but I thought of the children. So I have to protect myself."

Aquino expressed condolences to the relatives of those killed.

"With the rest of the Filipino people, I wish to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims whose lives were lost in the hostage situation," he said.

The tactics of the police in not killing the gunman early in the drama were questioned after a photo of the gunman in full view in the open doorway of the bus became public.

In Hong Kong, resident Kevin Chan said: "It's a tragedy and a farce. Why did it take them so long to get into the bus? They're not well disciplined and trained. Are they crazy?"

City University criminologist Dennis Wong Sing-wing said if the drama had occurred in the United States or on the mainland, the gunman would have been killed much earlier.

"It may be due to cultural differences. Filipinos are more easygoing and peace-loving so that they tend not to adopt fierce action. If the same scenario happened in the US or China, snipers would have killed the gunman a long time ago," Wong said.

"The negotiators might also have failed to assess the situation correctly, thinking it could be solved without force, as the gunman released a number of hostages."

Lawmaker James To Kun-sun said police seemed "a little slow" in breaking into the vehicle. Another lawmaker, Wong Yuk-man, said: "The Filipino police's approach to the incident might be problematic. But the situation changed very suddenly. It may have been a shock for even the police, who were asked to kill." The Hong Kong government has issued a black travel alert, warning against travel to the Philippines. Travel agents in the city will cancel all tours to Manila until further notice.


-----


China issues travel warning after Manila hostage-taking
South China Morning Post
Tuesday, August 24, 2010


BEIJING, Tuesday 24 August 2010 (AFP) - China on Tuesday urged its citizens travelling to the Philippines to exercise caution, after eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in a bus hijacking in Manila.

"The consular section of the foreign ministry and the embassy in the Philippines warn Chinese citizens to be cautious when travelling to the Philippines," the ministry said in a statement.

"Chinese citizens in the Philippines must pay attention to security risks, step up measures of self-protection and immediately inform the Chinese embassy of any emergency situations."

A disgruntled sacked policeman commandeered the bus carrying 25 Hong Kong tourists on Monday in a desperate bid to win his job back. The ordeal ended when police fired tear gas into the bus and a sniper shot the hostage-taker.

China has strongly condemned the hijacking and urged the Philippine government to ensure the safety of Chinese travellers.
"To secure peace is to prepare for war." - Carl Von Clausewitz
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al'Lan Mandragoran
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saver111
Aug 24 2010, 05:07 PM
Posted by maverick at the other forum (no link attached)

Quote:
 
one of the comments from yahoo, i thought it is true..




Postcripts To A BloodBath

Mr. Mendoza was already upset even before he saw on television what the policemen did to his brother. The other tourists who remained inside the bus were complaining. Wei Ji Jiang wanted to go to the bathroom. Dao Chi Yu was hungry and the rest were just groaning and whining like they have forgotten that our lives rest in Mr. Mendoza's hands.

The hostage taker, as you know him was really nice. He treated us okay and even let the elders and the children leave the bus. He said your policemen treated him unfairly. He was a policeman too and was accused of doing something he had no knowledge of. But your government didn't listen so he used us to get everyone's attention.

Things would have never turned for the worst if he didn't see how his family was dragged out of their house and taken into custody. He was watching the news all the time as we huddled around each other behind the bus. He shouted some words in your language then started shooting in the air. A girl about my age started screaming. Mr. Mendoza demanded her to stop but she didn't understand English. God, he had to slash her neck with a knife just to put her to rest. Her boyfriend who tried to hit him was shot in the head.

Tension was rising. You can see in his face how scared and confused he was. The bus driver ran away leaving him alone with strangers from a distant land. I can see him walking across the aisle, sometimes pointing his machine gun to one of the tourists. But he tried his best not to hurt us, especially those who really cooperate.

I guess its in your nature not to inflict pain on others unless it was necessary. I remember him saying that he will free us before sundown and implored us to forget everything when we return home. But his words don't matter now. The policemen were trying to force their way in, while we all lied down to shield ourselves from bullets. Mister Mendoza blindly shoots at his enemies which I think kept them from rescuing us. I hear sobs under the chairs. Some were even shouting the names of their loved ones even when the air merely eat their words. Kevin Tang tried to escape when the glass door was was shattered, but one shot and he slumped on the floor with blood gushing from his mouth.

Heavy rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop. In old Chinese saying, it means an end to a struggle. Finally, somebody was able to open the escape hatch at the back of the bus. Freedom. But I knew Mister Mendoza was still alive. I knew he was just waiting for a chance to strike back at his enemies. So I told those around me not to escape. Let the authorities come for us instead. Then there was gunfire. He was firing at his enemies with a machine gun. Those who were at the escape hatch fled abandoning us once again. It's like a nightmare with no end and to wake up means a certain death. Then somebody from outside the bus threw a canister. It forced out a black smoke that is so painful to the eyes and putrid smelling to the nose. People started screaming. We cannot breathe. Some ran in front of the bus but Mister Mendoza warned them of stray bullets. It was too late. One was hit on the head, the other was hit on the shoulders. Bullets were now flying. Its like the authorities thought we were all dead. Mister Mendoza finally admits his mistake and said sorry to everyone, dead or alive. He then ran towards the front of the bus where he would meet his maker. As he passed by my chair with bullets whistling overhead, I clutched my hand on the velvet curtain and wrapped it around my face. All I could think of was to stay alive - for my child who is waiting for me back in Xinjang. I know I will survive,

I will come home.

Bang Lu Min
Survivor, Quirino Bloodbath

:bs:

Bang Lu Min is not on the list of of tourist manifest on board that bus.
"In wars, boy, fools kill other fools for foolish causes."

"Run when you have to, fight when you must, rest when you can."

- Robert Jordan; The Wheel of Time
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