Philippines in the midst of agony

I had goose bumps when I first heard this news from my classmate. A former police officer is the lead actor in a hostage drama in Quirino Grandstand, Manila. The hostages were foreign nationals from Hong Kong and few Filipino crews who were trapped inside the bus. Twelve hours extreme action packed scene are on with this sacked cop on the main spot. It is like you are watching a movie or CSI live in your own television sets. After hours of dramas and actions nine hostages were confirmed dead. Hong Kong eventually issued its top-level black travel alert for the Philippines. The Hong Kong government was very disappointed about the outcome of the dramatic stand-off.

I can certainly say, of what I saw and observed that our very own policemen extremely lack intelligent tactics and security planning. Even President Aquino admitted that our local policemen lack tight training and incompetence with this kind of scenario. He even said that the media’s live coverage hampered the rescue operation on the hostages. Media men noted that they may have unwittingly fueled the tension on the siege and now that the Department of Interior and Local Government is eyeing for media protocols for coverage in similar situations. He said that media outlets should consider the safety of the hostages in their coverage.

Now, the Hong Kong's leader Donald Tsang criticized the handling of a hostage crisis, Others in Hong Kong reacted with shock and some anger after what appeared to an ineffective rescue operation, with thousands glued to their television sets as live footage of the hostage drama played on local television for much of the day. Numbers of people are now suggesting the need to review the government’s operating procedures.

From last week’s issue on police brutality here now comes the police incompetence, what next Philippine National Police..? How can you feel secured with these security officers?

Philippines are now at the map of most dangerous place to go. Filipinos all over the world could have been blame for what had happened. Overseas Filipino workers aboard most especially those who are working in HK and China would directly discriminate. It’s so disappointing that of this one incident, also everyone forgot the lovely beaches and places in the country. The historic match we did that made the world inspires us. The Philippine is a lovely country. Not all Filipinos are like Mendoza. We condemn what happened and justice will prevail.

Now that the Philippines are at the center of controversies, we Filipinos should unite as one in this battle. Let us offer our prayers to the Lord that he may light us in these dark days of our country. I am a Filipino, and I will always be proud. I will always celebrate being a Filipino. There are many reasons to be strong now, the triumph of Venus Raj, Filipino animator Joe Mateo received an award at the Creative Arts Emmy
Awards last Saturday, Charice will be on Glee next month. We should stand as one in this major major dilema. Lets pray and make our own way to show the world who really are Filipinos.