Hostage Drama: Bad Reputation to the Philippines

For days now, the news about the hostage taking that happened here in the Philippines is still on going. Everyday, when I watch the news, I always see something about it. Usually, it’s about someone blaming someone because this someone did something that made the whole save-the-hostages operation failed.

            It’s confusing right? Well yes, and even the government is confused. They say that it’s the Police Chief’s fault, and then they’ll blame it to Manila’s Vice Mayor then to the chief justice then to the President then back to the Chief of Police. Will things get any worse?

            The hostage taking in Manila gave the Philippines a bad reputation. During the hostage drama, many news channels and programs around the world focused in the Philippines. As I, together with my family, was watching the news at CNN, I felt pity to the policemen and SWAT team.  They were like lost children who don’t know what to do. Yes, they have big weapons but most of them were hiding at the near back of the bus. Those policemen who were carrying the small type of gun were the ones guarding the door. It was ironic to see how pathetic some of our policemen looks and acts.

            After the hostage drama, some Hong Kong nationals died as well as the hostage taker. It was a sad ending because blood was shed. Many critics and officials started to speak against the policemen and SWAT that the bloodshed could have prevented and all the hostages were saved. Some Hong Kong Nationals even showed the world especially to the Filipinos how they hate us because of what happened. They’re blaming the Filipinos because of the hostage taking which, in the first place, was a one man’s fault.

            The hostage drama gave our nation a bad reputation to some people. However, because of the hostage drama, our government started to be open in the way our policemen were trained. As far as I know, many policemen around the country will be given a chance to be better policemen. They will be trained not just physically but also mentally.

            The reason behind their training is that our government, especially the Police Officials, wants to prevent another failed operation like the hostage drama. They say, that if next time, another hostage drama will happen (which they hope will never happen), the policemen are all ready.

            It will take a time for the family of the dead Hong Kong Nationals to move on. But hopefully, the scar in their heart will heal and they won’t feel bad emotions towards the Filipino people. I hope that in the future, there will be no second hostage taker who would take hostage many people just for his selfish reasons.

The Filipinos are survivor. I know that we’ll all get over and move on from this kind of embarrassing and awakening that happened to our country. However, whether we like it or not, the Quirino Granstand Hostage Taking is already part of Hong Kong’s and our history.