Jetlag807: The Bottom Up

28 AUG 2010

The Bottom Up

Here we are a mere four days after the fiasco that was the Manila Bus Hostage Siege and still, the tragic comedy continues. Police and public officials from the bottom up have been scrambling like mice to get “their versions” of the story out to the press but, as expected, the lies show through as clear as black ink on a white linen sheet. It’s really no different, in their eyes, from any other foul up. They know the population as a whole will believe these absurdities and go on happily with their lives. However, what makes this situation far different from those of the past, and there are many, is the fact that China (especially Hong Kong) is watching this show very closely; and what a show it has been.

From the time Mendoza’s brother was allowed to participate in the negotiations until this very second, 28 AUG 2010 at 09:40HRS, each and every person, police and public official involved has made and continues to make serious lapses in judgment which only serve to make the situation much worse. The latest being the planning session going on right now to explain how anyone in government could even consider placing the Philippine Flag on the coffin of Rolando Mendoza. Thankfully, the Chinese government aware of the latest “SNAFU” complained saying (in so many words);

“Draping his coffin with the Philippine flag is a smear on the dignity of the flag”

Doesn’t it bother anyone (in the Philippines) that, until the Chinese complaint, nobody thought twice about it? Much like the uproar in response to President Aquino’s apparent “smiling” during the tour of the crime scene and subsequent press conference, Chinese officials are not at all pleased with the way things are turning out. Considering the amount of tourist arrivals, trade and labor migration that exists between Manila and Hong Kong, the Philippines should think twice (even three or four times) before they say or do anything related to the Hostage Crisis from this point onward. Sadly, those of us familiar with Philippine Damage Control know the level of stupidity is in its infancy and, given time, must mature into full-grown insanity.

Webster’s Dictionary defines INSANITY as (among other things) “something utterly foolish or unreasonable”. That would be my take on Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim’s statement, “I ordered them to handcuff him, but there was no order to make an arrest.”

Until that insane statement, given the obvious implications which kick-started the mayhem, I had placed Vice President (then Makati mayor) Binay at the top of the all time list of stupid comments made by public officials when he said…

“I didn’t lie… I just kept the truth to myself.”

Mayor Lim, not taking into account the massive LIVE TV coverage of the event and the events occurring in and around the Headquarters of the Manila Police District, ordered the apprehension (arrest) of Gregorio Mendoza, the gunman’s brother (the same brother who was allowed to assist in negotiations earlier in the day) causing said gunman to respond violently. Of course, no one would have been made aware of this had it not been for the grilling questions asked of police officials during the Senate Hearings on the subject. Lim, now backed into a corner, had two choices; accept and admit to his mistake or think up something “really stupid” to explain what he really meant. Well, we all know which route he took.

From the bottom to the very top, all persons involved in this circus, except for the gunman himself, continue to fail miserably. I give exception to the gunman simply because, out of this whole affair, he is the one person who succeeded in his goals.