How would you have handled the situation if you were involved in the hostage-taking negotiations?

Juna Beatriz Corpuz, Nueva Ecija: I would have given all the demands of the hostage-taker because human life is the primary consideration.

Sunshine Alarilla, Nueva Ecija: If I can give in to the demands of the hostage-taker, why not? If not, I’d kill him immediately. Why let the negotiations drag? Doing so would only put the hostages’ lives at risk.

Brave front

Ann Abigail Ortiz, Nueva Ecija: I would put up a brave front, knowing that lives of people are at stake. I would do whatever the hostage-taker wants so that the situation would remain calm. When all the hostages have been released, that’s the time to arrest the hostage-taker.

Meet the demands

Noel Navales, Metro Manila: I’d give in to all the demands of the hostage-taker and meet his timetable. Give him bogus documents reinstating him to his rank and promise him a reconsideration of the case filed against him. It’s not like he was asking for a ridiculous amount of cash and a helicopter.

Pedro Alagano Sr., Vigan City: If I were a member of the crisis committee, I’d strongly recommend to Mayor Lim, as the one in charge, to meet the demands of the hostage-taker, so he would be convinced to surrender. This will facilitate the release of the hostages.

Eric Gopilan, Parañaque City: I would give everything the hostage-taker wants to win his trust. Until the safety of the hostage is assured, I wouldn’t make a drastic move.

Jim Veneracion, Naga City: The government should have acceded first to Mendoza’s request for reinstatement, and deal with him later once the hostages are safe.

Herculano Babatido, Misamis Oriental: I would give in to Mendoza’s demands so that he would free all the hostages.

Ella Arenas, Pangasinan: I think I would give in to the demands to avoid bloodshed.

Aveline Menor, Mandaluyong City: I would have granted all the demands of Mendoza then sacked him later on for staging the hostage drama.

Rey Ibalan, Antipolo City: The safety of the victims must be of paramount concern during a hostage crisis so I would have granted him all possible concessions but break them later.

Manuel Abejero, Pangasinan: I would exhaust all means to convince Capt. Mendoza to give up without taking away his self-respect. I would bring in his family.

No third party

Ruben Viray, Antipolo City: I would assure the hostage-taker that all his demands would be considered. I would pacify his anger by using some psychological methods. I would not use any third party or any of his relatives or friends in the course of the negotiation so that emotions won’t run high. I would coordinate with the media and tell them to refrain from interviewing the hostage-taker to avoid public anger or sympathy, which might affect the entire negotiation.

Lay down arms

Deo Durante, Camarines Sur: I would have to consider the hostages, and do everything to convince the suspect to lay down his arms and free his captives in exchange for what he wants. The clamor of Capt. Mendoza was just simple: that he be reinstated. After saving the hostages, then let Mendoza deal with the law.

No ifs and buts

Jimmy Donton, Palawan: Negotiating is a serious job since it involves people’s lives. I leave this business to well-trained negotiators who are aware of situations that may suddenly come up. There are no ifs and buts in saving lives, so let the competent and qualified negotiators do it.

Jose Fabello Jr., Cagayan de Oro City: I would ensure the release of the hostages first, promising Mendoza the moon and the stars. Once this happens, to hell he goes.

Dr. Jose Balcanao, Benguet: If I were involved in the hostage-taking negotiations, I would have to hear first the grievances of the hostage-taker.

Find out the details

Loi Castillo, Davao City: Leave the negotiations to the police and plan out the necessary details for rescue. In this incident, the police should have called the operator of the bus to know the details of the vehicle. Then a news blackout should have been implemented. The sniper had the chance to take former Inspector Mendoza on a wide angle during the early part of the day but they missed the opportunity.

Celina Denise Javier, Vigan City: If I were in such a situation, I would not have allowed the police to attack the bus with just the words of the driver that “everyone is dead” as basis. I would have assumed that the hostages were still alive. The lives and safety of the hostages is the most important thing to consider at that time. I could have continued negotiating with the hostage-taker to convince him to surrender.

Impose a deadline

Nito Aquino, Makati City: The police should have given the hostage-taker a deadline to release the hostages or all deals are off.

Patience is the key

Armando Tavera, Las Piñas City: It takes a lot of patience to handle a hostage crisis.

Find the best negotiator

Alexander Raquepo, Ilocos Sur: I would handle it with utmost care and my prime objective would be the safety of the hostages. I would look for the best negotiator. The communication line between the negotiator and the hostage-taker should be open at all times.

Cris Rivera, Rizal: A person who can be easily provoked doesn’t deserve to be a negotiator.

Lim was wrong

Elpidio Que, Vigan City: If I were involved in the hostage-taking negotiations, I would not have had the delusion of being a no-nonsense “Dirty Harry,” because the life of even only one of the 25 hostages should have been of utmost importance. I would not have had Mendoza’s brother arrested as this made him snap and go on a shooting rampage, which was a most certain consequence. If I were Lim, I would have personally talked to Mendoza, a fellow police officer.

Diversionary tactics

Gerii Calupitan, Muntinlupa City: I would do everything to divert Mendoza’s attention.

Legal assistance

Arnie Domingo, Quezon City: I would have offered him legal assistance but not outright reinstatement into the police force. This offer would have been accompanied by a firm request to release the hostages at a specific time. A second appeal would be made if the first had not been followed. If the second appeal also failed to elicit a favorable response, then force could be used to neutralize the hostage-taker.

He was destined to die

Editha Monreal Antipolo City: If you think you can just go kill people because of some failures in life, I think you need to go see a doctor first. Mendoza was destined to die that day. It’s a pity he had to take the tourists with him.

Rico Fabello, Parañaque City: The first time that Mendoza would expose himself would be his last glimpse of the world. I’d shoot him a million times if I had to.

Ryan Pahimulin, Rizal: I would have ordered a sharpshooter to shoot the hostage-taker once there was an opportunity.

Ricardo Tolentino, Laoag City: Negotiating is difficult. The only way I know is to shoot him pointblank.

C.B. Manalastas, Manila: If I were the ground commander and Mendoza still wouldn’t surrender, I would have ordered a sharpshooter to take him down.

Dino Monzon, Caloocan City: I’d send the army’s light reaction company to kill Mendoza ASAP.

Rolly Palado, Pasig City: I would have given the order to take him down.  I consider him a terrorist and the main objective of the police would’ve been to save innocent lives and not the terrorist.

Like a ticking bomb

C.B. Fundales, Bulacan: A hostage-taker must be treated like a ticking bomb as soon as victims have been released.

Nestor Buñag, Mandaluyong City: The green light. His death wish was 3 p.m., right?

Ferdinand Rafer, Cavite: Russian style of resolving hostage crisis: No negotiations since hostage-taker is committing a crime. Kill the hostage-taker as soon as possible.

Richard Decena, Quezon City: I’d surround the hostage taker with snipers and shoot him dead as soon as there is a chance.

Ruel Bautista, Laguna: Upon sensing the breakdown or futility of negotiations, I would have ordered one of the snipers to take a shot whenever available.

Sweet talk

Renato Taylan, Ilocos Norte: I would have sweet-talked him, giving in to his initial demands. But if he still does not release the hostages, then that’s the time for the sniper to enter the picture.

I wouldn’t know any better

Lydia Reyes, Bataan: I don’t know how I would handle that situation. I have no right to blame the policemen because I’m not in their shoes.

Joe Nacilla, Las Piñas City: If I want to laugh hard I go to the barber shop or coffee shop because the most important topic is the recent hostage-taking, and people give all sorts of opinions on how things should have been done, as if they know better than anybody else.

Block onlookers, media

I.Q. Calata, Parañaque City: I would clear the area and block onlookers, even the media; prevent the hostage-taker to have access to radio/TV coverage except a two-way communication with my chosen negotiator. If negotiations still fail and the only option is assault, a three-pronged attack should be employed to divert his attention and rattle him.

Kelvin Casamayor, Ilocos Sur: Cordon the area at paalisin ang mga usisero’t usisera. As much as possible, give in to the demands of the hostage-taker.

Roger Caravana, Bulacan: First cordon the area. Only the ground commander will call the shots. Negotiate with the hostage-taker, defuse his agitation and tension.

Ed Gulmatico, Bacolod City: I would block the area, brief the media, and select a trusted negotiator, most probably a friend of the hostage-taker. If all things have been considered and the hostage-taker still hasn’t mellowed, that will be the time for military, police action.

Rodolfo Talledo, Angeles City: Too many cooks spoiled the broth. Members of the crisis committee should not be politicians who want all the glory but are afraid to take responsibility.

Joel Caluag, Bulacan: I would negotiate for the safety of the hostages. Definitely no media coverage.

Stop sensationalism

Leonard Villa, Batac City: Let’s not sensationalize the issue, instead, let’s put a stop to finger-pointing. There are more relevant issues to discuss and questions to ask.

Seek family’s help

Efren Fernandez, Cainta: I would try to airlift the wife and father of the hostage-taker from Batangas to Manila, and let them persuade him not to pursue his plan.

Disable Mendoza

Jun Montebon, Parañaque City: I’d disable and not kill him with a well-aimed shot at the first opportunity.

Presence of mind

Louella Brown, Baguio City: If I were involved in the hostage-taking negotiations, I would make sure that I have presence of mind, seeing to it that the hostage-taker and the hostages are alive.

Only one

Edwin Castillo, Tanauan City: Take the opportunity to overpower dismissed cop Mendoza during the negotiations. He was alone anyway.

Careful in words

Rose Leobrera, Manila: I would be very careful in my choice of words, convince the hostage-taker to surrender, give all his demands, try to pull him away from the bus, then I’d let the sharpshooter do his role. No live coverage, no onlookers as well.

Miguelito Herrera, Cabanatuan City: I’d follow my instincts and talk to the hostage-taker, seriously listen to whatever grievances or sentiment he has and give him media coverage if he requests for it.

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