The Manila Hostage Crisis

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 3):

AUGUST 23, 2010

The Manila Hostage Crisis began when Rolando Mendoza, a 55-year old former police officer boarded a tourist bus at the Rizal Park in Manila on August 23, 2010. 

Carrying an M16 rifle, he hijacked the bus carrying 25 people composed of a Hong Kong tour guide with 20 tourists, 3 Filipino tour guides and the bus driver. 

He claimed that he was unfairly dismissed from his job and wants a fair hearing on his case. Nine hostages, six Hong Kong nationals and three Filipinos, mostly women and children, were released in stages. 

TV stations broadcasted live the hostage drama. After a stand-off, Mendoza started to open fire. The driver managed to escape and after a 90-minute gun battle with the police, Mendoza and eight of the hostages were killed while several others were injured. 

President Benigno Aquino III in a news conference said that negotiators had thought the situation would be resolved peacefully, and the hostage taker did not appear set on hurting others or himself. 

The Philippine and Hong Kong governments made separate investigations into the incident and concluded that the Philippine officials' poor handling of the situation caused the eight hostages' deaths. 

After the incident, the Hong Kong government gave the Philippines a “black” travel status, which was eventually lifted.

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: wikipedia.org