8/31/2010

A letter from a surviving hostage

Events that lead to the death of eight tourist inside the bus Postscript Of A Bloodbath by Bang Lu Min (One of the Hostages) Mr. Mendoza was already upset even before he saw on television what the policemen did to his brother. The other tourists who remained inside the bus were complaining. Wei Ji Jiang wanted to go to the bathroom. Dao Chi Yu was hungry and the rest were just groaning and whining like they have forgotten that our lives rest in Mr. Mendoza's hands. The hostage taker, as you know him was really nice. He treated us okay and even let the elders and the children leave the bus. He said your policemen treated him unfairly. He was a policeman too and was accused of doing something he had no knowledge of. But your government didn't listen so he used us to get everyone's attention. Things would have never turned for the worst if he didn't see how his family was dragged out of their house and taken into custody. He was watching the news all the time as we huddled around each other behind the bus. He shouted some words in your language then started shooting in the air. A girl about my age started screaming. Mr. Mendoza demanded her to stop but she didn't understand English. God, he had to slash her neck with a knife just to put her to rest. Her boyfriend who tried to hit him was shot in the head. Tension was rising. You can see in his face how scared and confused he was. The bus driver ran away leaving him alone with strangers from a distant land. I can see him walking across the aisle, sometimes pointing his machine gun to one of the tourists. But he tried his best not to hurt us, especially those who really cooperated. I guess its in your nature not to inflict pain on others unless it was necessary. I remember him saying that he will free us before sundown and implored us to forget everything when we return home. But his words don't matter now. The policemen were trying to force their way in, while we all lied down to shield ourselves from bullets. Mister Mendoza blindly shoots at his enemies which I think kept them from rescuing us. I hear sobs under the chairs. Some were even shouting the names of their loved ones even when the air merely eat their words. Kevin Tang tried to escape when the glass door was was shattered, but one shot and he slumped on the floor with blood gushing from his mouth. Heavy rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop. In old Chinese saying, it means an end to a struggle. Finally, somebody was able to open the escape hatch at the back of the bus. Freedom. But I knew Mister Mendoza was still alive. I knew he was just waiting for a chance to strike back at his enemies. So I told those around me not to escape. Let the authorities come for us instead. Then there was gunfire. He was firing at his enemies with a machine gun. Those who were at the escape hatch fled abandoning us once again. It's like a nightmare with no end and to wake up means a certain death. Then somebody from outside the bus threw a canister. It forced out a black smoke that is so painful to the eyes and putrid smelling to the nose. People started screaming. We cannot breathe. Some ran in front of the bus but Mister Mendoza warned them of stray bullets. It was too late. One was hit on the head, the other was hit on the shoulders. Bullets were now flying. Its like the authorities thought we were all dead. Mister Mendoza finally realizes his mistake and said sorry to everyone, dead or alive. He then ran towards the front of the bus where he would meet his maker. As he passed by my chair with bullets whistling overhead, I clutched my hand on the velvet curtain and wrapped it around my face. All I could think of was to stay alive - for my child who is waiting for me back in Xinjang. I know I will survive, I will come home. Bang Lu Min Survivor, Quirino Bloodbath

10 comments:

  1. Wow ! Hijacker held tourists as hostages and treated them as cordial as he could.

    BUT

    his family members were held hostages by his government liked mafia style revenge.

    Did it happen in a lawless society ?

    patriot

    ReplyDelete
  2. WTF!

    Eyewitness account.

    Everything we need to know is there.

    1. The ex cop who was maligned probably because of corruption in the force. We all know how corrupted that Banana Land is.

    2. Trying to get justice done, he did something stupid but also the only thing he could do. He tried to attract attention to his cause by hijacking a bus full of tourists. He didn't mean to harm them, just use them to call the world's attention to the injustice suffered by him.

    3. There were moments when the tourists really appreciated him for being sensitive to their safety. He is definitely no terrorist type gunman. This type, they'll just behead or shoot you without batting an eye lid. I truly am convinced he was a God fearing man. He is not a very smart man and also very unstable. Definitely a candidate for a hostage negotiator, professionally trained at Langley or Quantico, not in some half baked academy in Pinoy Land.

    4. The ineptness and incompetence of the Pinoy Police. Hacking at the windows with sledgehammers, blasting away with their automatic rifles as if all the tourists were already dead and there was no one left to save. What morons! If these jokers attempt a rescue attempt, you're already dead from the word, "Go".

    A poignant letter from a surviving hostage. It's all there. No need for any further explanation. Stupidity, ineptness, thoughtlessness resulting in 8 dead HK tourists in Pinoy Land to see the sights but saw death instead.

    WTF!

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  3. It is clear that the hostages were killed by a bunch of uniformed morons.

    ReplyDelete
  4. There you have it -- an anecdotal account (personal opinion, the falliabilty of human memory/ recall-- apply necessary skepticism)

    Mendoza was clearly to blame for this -- he even apologised.

    Just because you've been treated badly is no reason you should exert "pay back" on innocents who have no place in your quarrel.

    Just because the cops "played dirty" by arresting Mendoza's family doesn't at all give Mendoza the "just right" to further his intimidation/ harm of those who have no quarrel with him.

    If Mendoza was that "hurt" by the "injustice" (open to question) of the police force, why didn't he attack a police station or some high-ranking cop directly? Why pick on innocent, unarmed tourists?

    Fucking arsehole Mendoza. Roast in hell you cunt. No karaoke for you there :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. From this incident on, Philippines can kiss tourism goodbye. Maybe they should rebrand itself as some lawless cowboy cuntry "of 7100+ islands" where you can hijack a bunch of people be they tourists, journalists or politicians' families and gun them down in cold blood, then push their vehicles over the cliff.

    Hey, you could pretend you are Anton Chigurh from the movie "No Country for Old Men" and gun down people just for fun since lives seem to have NO value in Philippines.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Read this elsewhere days before.
    I only hope that the ex cop did not end up losing his job and in this situation becos of being a whistle blower.

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  7. Anon 12:26

    Comrade, you're a genius.

    Yeah, turn the whole cuntry into a "free for all shoot it up" mickey mouse theme park.

    Have some vicarious fun being a lawless guy gone berserk. Play around with all the latest weapons of death which you were unable to touch let alone shoot in your own home country. Or play the hostage. You'll have the fright of your life and that may get some the hard on.

    What a great idea. And the 7000+ islands are great for playing hide and seek. Turn some into retreats for gays and some for the nudist colony. Walau eh, islands of dreams or is it nightmares?

    Hehe.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I doubt tourism is going to be affected at all. Perhaps people from China, specifically HK might be 'turned off' but that is to be expected.

    'Sex' tourism will still keep going.

    Gun play is quite common in that 'interesting' country. In fact, that country is so fascinating almost anything goes :-)

    And remember, it is essentially a religious country: which means human life, in the context of religion, is meaningless, corrupted and evil. So killing people is just another one of "god's punishments". And we know what an angry asshole that "god" is.

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  9. With all their fabulous islands, they could be very very rich. Tourism alone call drive the whole economy, if they care to employ a few talents from red dot to run it for them.

    ReplyDelete
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