The manila hostage crisis

Informative Essay

I. Introduction
A. Date
- When did this crisis happen? It was a hot sunny morning on August 23, 2010 at about 9
AM.
B. Location
- The Hong Kong tourist bus was parked in front of Fort Santiago with its driver resting
and waiting for the tourists to return from the tour. And at about 10 AM they were
heading for Rizal Park and parked in front of Quirino Grandstand, one of the main
attractions in the area.
C. People involved
- But first and foremost, who were the people involved in this tragic incident? The bus
carried 25 people, which consists of the driver, Alberto Lubang. 20 Hong Kong nationals,
a tour guide from Hong Kong, and three local Filipino tour guides. Then finally, the
mastermind of the whole incident. Hostage taker, Rolando Mendoza. A 55-year-old
former policeman who was dismissed due to an alleged drug violation, stripping him off
from all the retirement benefits which was only a year away. He was known as a diligent,
respected, and was once commended as one of the best policemen in the Philippines.

II. Crisis Management

A. Tourist
- A Hong Thai Travel Services tour bus was parked outside of Fort Santiago waiting for
its passengers whom are Hong Kong nationals with local Filipino tour guides. As they
went back to the bus a man in a police uniform, Rolando Mendoza, attempted to board
and requested for a free ride. Alberto Lubang, the driver of the bus was alarmed and
politely declined. Mendoza then handcuffed him to the steering wheel and hijacked the
bus.
B. Hijack
- Mendoza was armed with a handgun and an M16 rifle. He told the driver to head to
Rizal Park. At about 10 AM the bus arrived and parked in front of Quirino Grandstand.
As words about the situation spread out, policemen quickly arrived at the scene.
C. Media
- News stations broadcasted the on-going situation without them knowing that this will
contribute to making the incident much, much worse. See, the bus was equipped with a
TV which Mendoza was watching. Viewing everything very carefully helping him know
what was happening outside of the bus.
D. Negotiation
- Mendoza hijacked the bus for one demand. That he will be reinstated back to the police
service. Colonel Orlando Yebra and Major Romeo Salvador, Mendoza’s former
colleagues, were the one’s assigned to negotiate with him. An hour later, 6 Hong Kong
tourists were freed: an elderly couple, a woman with two young children, and a 12-year-
old boy. In exchange of the releases, two Filipino photographers boarded the bus as
volunteer hostages.
 E. Failure
- His brother, SP02 Gregorio Mendoza, went to help with the negotiation but instead he
encouraged Rolando Mendoza to continue because his demands were not met. Because of
that, Gregorio was arrested making Rolando more furious.
F. Attack
- Minutes later, he shot two hostages. Alberto Lubang, the bus driver, then managed to
escape the bus. Policemen tried nearly an hour to enter the bus, but failed. Snipers, who
were in position, successfully shot Mendoza in the head.
G. Downfall
- Because of the poor crisis management of the Philippines, the Manila Hostage Crisis
then had 9 deaths including the perpetrator himself.

III. Conclusion
A. Outcome
- The death of the Hong Kong nationals in our country broke the relationship between
China and Philippines.
1. Backlash
- Grieving families of the victims seek for justice causing various nationals title
Philippines as a scary country with dozens of crimes happening every day.

Reference List:

Avila, A. P. (2010). Manila hostage tragedy: A lesson in crisis management.

Retrieved Sep. 28, 2021, from https://www.rsis.edu.sg/
rsis-publication/rsis/1399-manila-hostage-tragedy-a-less/
#.YVZlxLcRVPw

Mogato, M. & Ranoco, R. (2010). Gunman, eight hostages killed in manila bus siege.
Retrieved Sep. 28, 2021, from https://www.reuters.com/article/
us-philippines-hostage-idUSTRE67M0DJ20100823

Prepared by:

Jessa Mae L. Arcangel and Rhesty Angelo T. Austria

Grade 8-A students