I really aim to submit my columns a few days before the Balita deadline. I am doing so now.
On this day, the nation is observing a national day of mourning for the casualties of the grim hostage- taking incident at the Luneta a few days ago. Eight touring Chinese nationals among a busload of Chinese travelers and their Filipino hostage- taker perished in what is now considered the worst incident of its kind in the Philippines yet.
Touched halos lahat dito sa aming barangay- para dun sa mga turista, aged two to seventy two. Nagti take time out lang naman lahat para makapagrelax at makakita ng bagu- bagong tanawin tapos, eto pa ang nangyari sa kanila. Yung isang ale, tulala masyado dahil kasama sa napatay ang kanyang asawa at dalawang anak. May natirang isang anak na lalaki na nasa tourist bus ding iyon at siguro, sya na lang ang pinaglalaanan ng natitirang lakas ng nanay na ito. What was expected to be a fun and happy family overseas tour turned out otherwise for them.
While I write this column, my left ear hears the deep apology aired on am radio, of the hostage- taker’s wife to those who were affected by the tragedy. I know that she and the whole family are deeply- saddened too because they also had a casualty- the hostage- taker. The allusion will not matter to them, though, because in their hearts, he remains good husband to the wife and loving father to his children.
‘He must have been so desperate to do this thing,’ says my bayaw, Nick, ex Canadian resident. Nasuklam nga daw kasi itong si Sr. Inspector Rolando Mendoza, isang police officer sa Western Police District sa naging desisyon ng Ombudsman sa isinampang kaso sa kanya related to drugs and extortion. ‘Baka innocent sya of the charges, di kaya,?’ ask naman ng pinsan nyang si Boyet. Oo nga naman,kung iisipin mo, why will he go to that extent if he did not feel that he there was injustice done to him? Out of desperation, natuliro na nga siguro and wanting people to hear his side, naisip nyang magpakulo ng hostage- taking. Question now is- did he intend to take it the way the incident ended?
Si Sr. Ins. Mendoza po, kung di nyo naitatanong, ay bemedalled- he was decorated in 1986 as one of the ten outstanding police officers in the whole country lang naman po. He was also recipient of multiple citations of the PNP Medal of Commendation, PNP Badge of Honor, PNP Efficiency Medal, PNP Merit Medal, and the PNP Medalya ng Paglilingkod.
O sige po, kayo na ang gumawa ng inyong mga kuru- kuro
Karaming imbestigasyon daw ang mangyayari- review of Mendoza’s case with the Ombudsman, investigation of the incident- nagkamali ba ang mga pulis sa pagpapaputok and quick assault; OA na naman ba ang media sapagku- cover; pati Kongreso nakisawsaw na- meron daw bill to be introduced giving penalties to USIS-mga usisero po. May isa kasing naging casualty outside the bus- isang di napigilang manonood na tumakbo pa din sa tabi ng bus ng mga hostages at nasapol ng bala.Sa totoo lang, sakit na yata ng Pinoy ang pag- USI. Tanda ko nung EDSA revolution, dun sa dating Bohol Avenue, kita ko ang mga bata, takbu sa pagkuha ng mga basyo ng bala sa kalye habang patuloy pang may nagpapaputok. Pag nagawi naman kayo sa kahit anong kalye sa MetroManila kapag nagbabakasyon dito, napansin ba nyong biglang sikip ng traffic pag may aksidente- malaking reason dun ay ang paghinto o pagbagal ng andar ng mga sasakyan. Panu ba naman, hayun at full stretch ang leeg ng driver sa pagtingin sa scene of accident- paikut ikot pa ang mga mata, parang minemorize ang mga pangyayari siguro para may maikwento sa mga barkada katapos ang trabahong pagmamaneho.
I will not expound on the repercussions of this incident to many people and countries. I know, malaki ang epekto and I guess, karamihan ay magiging negative,
For now, mananahimik ako at mananalangin for those who perished and their loved ones left behind who will be the more unfortunate as they will have time to sadly remember the hostage- taking incident at the Luneta.
Thank you all!
Greetings: I just want to say thanks so much to the ladies and gentlemen of the Releasing Division at the Pag- ibig Fund Office for their kindness to me as I went to do my chore with their office last August. Ms. Art and company, what a good job you all do!