Hostage situation on a tourist bus in Manila: Nick Paton Walsh says it could go either way.
At the same time threatening, confusing, and perhaps plaintive, this was the sign the Manila gunman pinned to the window of the coach inside which he has about 17 tourists – mostly from Hong Kong – hostage.
Because this is the Philippines, the police assuringly say that the hostages appear pretty relaxed, even suggesting they might be oblivious to the heavily-armed drama unfolding around them. Because this is Manila, the gunman is a former policeman, infuriated at corruption charges against him, desperate to get his job back.
Because this is 2010, the live cameras are rolling on the bus, giving the entire world – in this slow news month of August – a detailed and real time view on the denouement of what could be a remarkably good-natured standoff, or something far, far worse.
As if ordained by a 90s Hollywood script, the media are gathered a hundred metres away, and a crowd had formed, eager not to miss in reality the action they will see close-up on television later that day.
A man identified as Rolando Mendoza walked onto the tourist bus this morning, parked as it was near the Quirino grandstand in the city, with an M16 rifle. Then the demands began. Negotiators calmly walked up to the bus windows. 8 hostages – three of them children – soon walked from the bus.
A brief moment of panic ensued when the negotiators seemed to back away from the bus. Shortly afterwards, the gunman pinned another note on the bus windows: “BIG DEAL WILL START AFTER 3 PM TODAY”. Again, depending on how you read it, this sign could herald a peaceful settlement at 3pm, or something far nastier.
It’s unclear whether the other sign: “3PM TODAY DEAD LOCK” suggested things were getting any better. Again, another sign: “RELEASE FINAL DECISION”, leaves you wondering whether he’d made his mind up to let everyone go, or, more likely (given the details of his case that followed on the note) whether he wanted the details behind his dismissal fully disclosed.
Just after 3pm, the gunman’s brother was overheard asking him for an extension to the deadline of thirty minutes.
But with men with guns on buses of tourists, it is unwise to take chances, so sharpshooters are everywhere, joined by the police assurances that force is their very last resort.
The police chief superintendent, Erwin Margarejo, said: “I am optimistic that maybe by 3 o’ clock he will release all the hostages”. That hasn’t happened yet.
Mendoza was dismissed for “conduct unbecoming an officer”. It sounds troublingly euphemistic.
The brother has complained his sibling had no process, hearing or complaint, he was just removed. You can’t help thinking this particular conduct is no more becoming of an officer, and that maybe they were right to take his badge.