Survivor berates Philippines over hostage siege
A Hong Kong woman whose husband and two daughters were among eight tourists killed in a bus hostage siege in Manila tearfully blamed Philippine authorities on Tuesday for the tragedy. The survivor, who identified herself only as Mrs Leung, sat sobbing outside a hospital in Manila after the deaths of her two daughters — aged 14 and 21 — were confirmed. Her 18-year-old son was in intensive care with a serious head injury, according to media reports. Leung said her husband was killed during the siege on Monday as he tried to stop ex-policeman Rolando Mendoza from attacking other passengers on the tourist bus. The family of five were on holiday together in Manila. "The Philippine government... I can't accept this. Why did they do this to us?" she told Hong Kong government representatives who flew to Manila in the aftermath, in comments shown on Cable News TV. Leung condemned Philippine authorities for intervening only after a 12-hour standoff with Mendoza, a disgruntled former senior officer who wanted his job back with the police force. "(The gunman) did not want to kill us. He only shot us after the negotiation failed," she said. "Why didn't they give him money? I don't understand why they couldn't give him money." Leung said she had pretended to be dead on the bus so that she could escape the siege and "take care of my children". "But two of them are dead." As she was pulled from the bus on Monday night, Leung told reporters she did not know the whereabouts of her three children, but said her husband had died a hero. "He was very brave. He rushed forward to try to prevent the hostage taker from killing people and sacrificed himself," she said. The tragedy started when Mendoza, armed with an M-16 assault rifle, hijacked the busload of Hong Kong visitors in Manila's tourist district. According to Philippine authorities, negotiations broke down after nightfall when the gunman began shooting the passengers, and commandos stormed the bus. Police said Mendoza was shot dead by a sniper after he used his captives as "human shields" in the final moments of the siege.
Comments
The Philippines commandoes
Naren
24 Aug 2010 - 17:17
The Philippines commandoes made the biggest mistake of storming the bus - with just one hijacker the best way would have been to negotiate - there was no other way - agree to discuss his case, offer amnesty, whatever - just ask him to release the hostages - wear him down - prolong as much as possible till he asks for food whiich can be doctored to calm him - if you storm the site there will always be collateral casualties.
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