An embarrassment the police can’t forget
QUIRINO GRANDSTAND HOSTAGE- TAKING CRISIS
EXACTLY two years ago today, eight Hong Kong tourists lost their lives in an infamous hostage crisis at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. Their deadly end was blamed largely on local government and police officials who bungled an already ill-prepared plan to rescue the victims.
The tragedy soured the country’s relationship with Hong Kong and led to the sacking of a number of Philippine National Police (PNP) officials. The embarrassment also led then-PNP chief Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa to bow out of service earlier than scheduled.
“We are confident that this kind of similar situation will not happen again
This file photo dated August 23, 2010 shows a SWAT team breaking into the tourist bus during the hostage- taking crisis at Rizal Park’s Quirino Grandstand that saw hostage- taker Rolando Mendoza and eight Hong Kong tourists dead.
and the PNP has already learned its lesson from the incident,” Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo, PNP spokesman, told The Manila Times on the eve of the tragedy’s second anniversary
For Cerbo, the tragic end of the hostage crisis was something that they would not want remembered but could not forget. A ghost that will haunt the people involved— from the President down— forever.
“We saw the lapses and the breaches of security from that incident and we take it up positively— the lessons from that incident— and in fact we strengthened our systems,” was the only way the PNP could make up for its mistakes then, according to Cerbo.
Besides, the official said that following the bungled rescue operations, the police force has made some adjustments and improvements in their system.
“We strengthened the structure of the crisis management committee tasked to handle such incident—we saw what we lacked in terms of equipment and we are slowly addressing this,” Cerbo said.
He said that they also saw the need to improve the skills of police units, such as the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, whose humiliating handling of the situation became the laughingstock of other law enforcement units here and abroad.
“We saw the need for further training of our special units dedicated in handling of this kind of crisis situation, so we conducted further training to our special units,” Cerbo said.
Isolated
For Manila Police District spokesman, Chief Insp. Erwin Margarejo, the death of the eight tourists at the hands of a former colleague, sacked police senior inspector Rolando Mendoza, was an isolated case.
“We will never forget that crisis. However, after that incident even until now our Manila policemen are continuously undergoing training to improve skills and capabilities in handling emergency situations,” he said.
Margarejo said that the 12-hour hostage crisis led to a series of training and seminars for Manila police officers, particularly the Special Reaction Unit, which includes the SWAT team.
“The incident, however, is an isolated case and that is not reflecting the peace and order situation in Manila . . . Mag move on na tayo ang importante marami tayong natutuhan sa insidente [Let’s move on because what is important is that we learned a lot of things from that incident],” he pointed out.
Margarejo said that the Manila police force is now better trained and ready to give its highest standard of service if confronted with a similar crisis.
Cerbo echoed Margarejo’s pronouncements and stressed that the crisis showed the important role of the police, local government units and even the media in the handling of such a scenario.
“We are confident that with this kind of preparation it [hostage taking] won’t happen again and we strongly believe that we have the right organization,” the PNP spokesman further said.
“We have the manpower, training and equipment and we have strengthen crisis management from national to local level… we are confident that this kind of similar situation will not happen again,” he added.
Fatal end
On August 23, 2010, a busload of Hongkong tourists was held hostage by Mendoza, who was seeking reinstatement in the police force after he was sacked for extortion. Ironically, the suspect was a decorated policeman, being a recipient of numerous awards and commendations.
Mendoza brought the hostages to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park. Mendoza himself was killed by fellow police officers right after he shot his victims one by one.
The police bungling of the hostage incident was captured live on national television and immediately drew criticism from various sectors.
Many police officers were relieved from their posts including then National Capital Region Police Office director Leocadio Santiago. Even Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, then MPD Director Chief Supt. Rodolfo Magtibay were criticized for mishandling the situation.