MANILA, Philippines - Nearly a year after the bloody Aug. 23, 2010 hostage drama at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park wherein nine people were killed, the Manila Police District (MPD) has adopted preventive measures to thwart similar crises from happening.
The Manila police have also reviewed its policies and procedures to prepare for and effectively manage any hostage-taking incident in the future, according to MPD director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla, who replaced Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay after the incident.
Rongavilla said the MPD Special Weapons and Tactics personnel who took part in the fiasco underwent stress debriefing management and their group renamed Special Reaction Unit. The new additions to the SRU, who were provided with modern assault equipment, successfully passed their training on urban crisis tactical intervention course, Rongavilla added.
The MPD has also trained and equipped 75 tourist police officers deployed in two shifts in the city’s tourist belt, especially in Luneta and Intramuros, two places frequented by foreigners. Of this number, 10 policewomen act as tourist guides.
The tourist police will also provide free calesa rides around Luneta and Intramuros tomorrow to foreign tourists as a gesture to win back their trust and confidence, according to tourist police head Chief Inspector Randy Maluyo.
The MPD has trained its public information office personnel in proper media dissemination to minimize risk, confusion and damage during coverage of public disturbances.
Rongavilla said he is optimistic that the tragic Luneta hostage incident will not be repeated.
Dismissed former senior inspector Rolando Mendoza took over a tourist bus carrying 25 persons in an attempt to get his job back, but negotiations broke down about 10 hours into the standoff, and Mendoza ended up killing eight tourists before he himself was killed by a police sniper.
Magtibay, together with other police officials involved in the negotiation and rescue operations, were relieved from their posts. Administrative charges were filed against them in connection with the bungled rescue of the foreign hostages.
The STAR tried to get statements from former MPD chief hostage negotiator Superintendent Orlando Yebra, but he declined to be interviewed, saying he wants to forget the past and is focused on defending himself from administrative charges.
“Sorry, but I have nothing to say about that incident and I want to forget everything about it (Luneta hostage). I am now facing charges and I just wanted to concentrate on my defense,” Yebra said over the phone. He also declined to say where he is presently assigned now.
Other police officials involved in the Luneta hostage-taking incident also shared the same sentiment.