Radio Mo Nationwide (RMN) anchor Michael Rogas was the last person abductor Rolando Mendoza talked to before he was shot dead during the 11-hour hostage incident at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park.

Their conversation showed that Mendoza is prepared to die that day. He also said to Rogas how he was talked to by the government officials.

Mendoza said that he had spoken to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and told her that she would be at fault if anything bad happened to the hostages. He also revealed that Gonzales and Gutierrez told him that he is at fault if this gets worse.

Below is the transcript of the conversation between Mendoza and Rogas:

MICHAEL ROGAS: Captain, sa papaaanong paraan po ninyo gustong matapos itong isyung ito, itong sitwasyong ito? (Captain, how do you want this issue, this situation to end?)

MENDOZA: Ayun nga, yung Ombudsman, ang sabi, re-review-hin, rerepasuhin. Ang gusto ko, dalhin nila rito ngayon ang order kung ako’y talagang dismissed. Yung final order nila na ako’y dismissed o na-issue-han ng dismissal order. Yun ang gusto kong mangyari: final order. Yung ginawa kanina, sulat lang ‘yun. Para ako’y ma-satisfy sa harap ng aking in-laws. Hindi tama ‘yun, mali ‘yun.

(They said the Ombudsman will review my case. What I want is for them to deliver the order if I’m really dismissed from service. The final order, saying I’m dismissed or was issued a dismissal order. That’s what I want: final order. What they delivered earlier was just a letter. For me to be satisfied in front of my in-laws. That was wrong.)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Kapitan, meron po kayong pakiusap sa pamamagitan po ng RMN, nakikinig po ang mga pulis ngayon. May pakiusap kayo sa pulis, lalung-lalo na dun sa mga sniper?

(Captain, is there anything you want to tell the police? They are listening to the RMN radio station right now. Do you have anything to say, especially to the snipers?)

MENDOZA: ‘Yang mga sniper, pag hindi sila nagsialis sa kanilang mga pwesto ay sasampolan ko sila. Ii-snipe-in ko ‘kako itong nasa pintuan.

(These snipers, if they won’t go away, I’ll give them a sample. I’ll shoot this one at the door.) Note: Masa Tse, the tour guide, was handcuffed by Mendoza at the door of the bus. He was eventually killed.

MICHAEL ROGAS: Ok, sa oras na ito, na quarter to seven na po ang oras dito po sa aming himpilan. Quarter to seven na ng gabi. Ano na po ang huling desisyon ninyo? (Ok, it’s now quarter to 7 p.m. What is your final decision?)

MENDOZA: Eh wala na po. Kasi nakikita ko ang dami nang SWAT na dumarating. Ang daming SWAT na dumarating, nakikita ko sa palibot. Ako naman, alam ko papatayin din nila ako. Kaya magsialis na sila dahil anytime, gagawin ko din ‘yun dito.

(I see a lot of SWAT coming. Many SWAT members are here, I see them all around. I know they are going to kill me. They should go away because anytime, I’ll do the same here on the bus.)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Sino na po talaga ang gusto ninyong makausap maliban po sa media?

(Who else do you want to talk to besides the media.)

MENDOZA: Eh yung pinaka reliable. Yung totoo ang sasabihin sa ‘kin kasi ayaw ko yung sinisinungalingan lang ako.

(Someone who is really reliable, who will tell me the truth. I don’t want someone who will just tell me lies.)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Sino yun? (Who is that?)

MENDOZA: Media. Media lang din. (Media. I just want the media.)

At this point of the interview, Mendoza is watching on TV the arrest of his brother, SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza.

MENDOZA: Oh, yung kapatid ko nakikita ko, bakit nila ginaganyan? Akong may kasalanan dito, walang kasalanan ‘yan! Walang kasalanan ‘yan. Ipakita niyo na pinakawalan ninyo kapatid ko! Ipakita nila, pagka hindi titirahin ko ang mga nandirito sa loob!

(I can see my brother, why are they doing that? I’m the one at fault here, not him! He’s not at fault. Show me that he’s being freed! Show me or else I’ll start shooting the people here!)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Kalma lang po… (Please remain calm…)

MENDOZA: Sabihin mo sa kanila, sabihin mo sa kanila ‘yan! (Tell them that, tell them that!)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Opo, tinatawagan na po. (Yes, we’re already calling.)

MENDOZA: Ipakita nila, ipakita nila dito sa kaliwa, sa kaliwa! Makita ko sa kaliwa ng bus. Palakarin nila ang kapatid ko diyan! Pagka hindi… ito, talagang ano. Aanuhin ko dito lahat-lahat.

(Show it, show it at the left! Make sure I see it at the left side of the bus. Make my brother walk away! Or else, I’ll… I’ll…)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Opo, tinatawagan na po namin ang PNP. Easy lamang po. (Yes, we’re already calling the Philippine National Police. Please take it easy)

MENDOZA: Wala naman kasalanan yang kapatid ko. Hindi nila alam ang pangyayari dito. (My brother is not fault. They didn’t know what’s happening here.)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Kalma lang po tayo dahil kami na po ay nakikipag-ugnayan na po sa PNP. Humuhupa na rin naman po ang mga pulis, ano po. (Please stay calm because we are now contacting the PNP. The police are also starting to calm down…)

MENDOZA: Ayan o, binibitbit ‘yung kapatid kong pulis. Walang kasalanan ‘yan, bakit nila bibitbitin yan? Sasabihin nila, accessory, hindi accessory ‘yan! Ako lang mag-isa ang gumawa nito. Ayan nakikita ko. Nakikita ko ‘yung ginagawa nila sa kapatid ko, ayun o! Pulis yan eh, walang kasalanan ‘yan! Walang kasalanan ‘yan!

(There! They’re arresting my brother who’s a cop. He’s not at fault, why are they taking him? They’d say, accessory, he’s not an accessory! I’m the only one who did this. I can see it. I see what they’re doing to my brother. He’s a cop, he’s not part of this. He’s not part of this!)

MENDOZA: Pakawalan nila ‘yan, pagka hindi, eto, babarilin ko ‘yung nasa unahan! Sabihin mo sa kanila. Sabihin mo sa kanila. Ayan o, nakikita ko rito, ayun o, nasa TV. Ginagawa nilang baboy ang kapatid ko na pulis! Walang kasalanan ‘yan! Hindi niya alam ang pangyayaring ito. Ngayon niya lang nalaman sa TV. Bakit nila gaganyanin? Wala ‘yan. Walang kasalanan ‘yan!

(Let him go, or I’ll shoot this one at the door! Tell them that. Tell them that! I’m seeing it here, it’s on TV! They’re treating my policeman brother like a pig! He’s not at fault. He doesn’t know anything. He knew this just now on TV. Why are they doing that to him? He’s not a part of this!)

MENDOZA: Ayun o. Ito, lalala lamang ito sa ginagawa ng mga pulis na ‘yan! Sabihin mo sa kanila. P*tangina! O, hindi nila pakakawalan ‘yan? P*tangina! Oh, babarilin ko na ito! Pakawalan ninyo ‘yan! Babarilin ko na ito!

(This will only get worse because of what the police are doing! Tell them that! [expletive] They won’t set him free? [expletive] I’ll shoot this person! Set him free! I’m going to start shooting!)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Sandali po. Huwag po kayong magpapaputok. Captain Mendoza… (To Erwin Tulfo) Pakibilisan lang yung ground commander…

(Hold on. Do not fire your gun. Captain Mendoza… (To Erwin Tulfo) Erwin, please hurry to the ground commander…)

MENDOZA: Ayan pinosas na! ‘Pag hindi nila pinakawalan ‘yan, babarilin ko na ‘to! (They already handcuffed him! If they won’t set him free, I’ll shoot this person!)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Captain Mendoza, tinutulungan na po namin kayo… (Captain Mendoza, we’re already helping you…)

MENDOZA: Wala dinederetso-diretso nila. Pag umalis at hinuli nila kasama ang kapatid ko, babarilin ko yung nasa unahan, Babarilin ko na ‘tong lahat-lahat. (They just went through with it. If they go away and bring my brother, I am going to shoot the one in the front. I am going to shoot everybody.)

MICHAEL ROGAS: Captain Mendoza! Captain Mendoza!

At this point, Mendoza is no longer speaking to the interviewer as a commotion ensues inside the bus.

He later told the interviewer that he had shot 2 of the Chinese tourists and that he would kill everyone on the bus if the SWAT team does not go away.

MENDOZA: Binaril ko na yung 2 Chinese. Pagka hindi nila binago yung ganitong sitwasyon, ako mamamaril dito sa loob. Uubusin ko ‘to! Uubusin ko pagka hindi sila tumigil ng kakatakbo diyan sa gilid. Uubusin ko to!

(I shot 2 of the Chinese. If they don’t change the situation, I’m going to start shooting in here. I’ll finish off everyone! I’ll kill everybody if they don’t stop running beside the bus. I’ll finish off everyone!)

Malaca?ang declared that September 10 of this year is a non-working holiday in commemoration with the end of Muslim’s Ramadan.

The holy month of fasting for the Muslim is about to end next weekend. So, that would be a 3-day holiday from September 10-12.

Republic Act No. 9177 was signed into law in November 2002 during the term of ex-president Arroyo. It states the declaration that the first day of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, a national holiday for the observance of Eidul Fitr.

Eidul fitr are two Arabic words, eidul meaning festivity and fitr referring to purification. They are cleansing their sins through the 30-day fasting period.

Their month of festivity always depends on the Islamic calendar so it would be changing depending on the dates.

Seven Asians were honoured for their selfless and devoted agenda in furthering the welfare of their fellowmen through the 2010 Ramon Magsaysay Award.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III lead the presentation of awards. He also had his congratulatory speech at the end of the program.

The recipients of the highly-coveted award are Tadatoshi Akiba of Japan, Huo Daishan of China, Pan Yue and Fu Qiping both from China, A.H.M. Noman Khan from Bangladesh, and Christopher and Ma. Victoria Bernido represents our country.

The award which remembers the late president of the Philippines, Ramon Magsaysay, is the counterpart of the prestigious Nobel Prize. This annual event was organized by the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation lead by its Board of Trustees.

The awardees are chosen for their unrelenting advocacy of uplifting their nation as well as the whole Asia.

Akiba is a three-term mayor of Japan who pursye the stopping of nuclear proliferation. Daishan is a journalist who take care of the Huai River which benefits million of residents of China. While Khan’s advocacy is for the people with disability, Pan Yue and Fu Qiping strengthen environmental protection. Meanwhile, the Bernido couple fosters quality education through science and technology.

All of them except for Pan Yue and Fu Qiping accepted the award at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Reports said they have their personal reasons for not attending the ceremony.

Philippines being called as the texting capital of the world is using the phone mania in the field of agriculture as suggested by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

The IIRI which is located in Los Ba?os, Laguna is employing the use of cutting edge technology in efficient rice production.

From this month, a plan to use text messaging to send precise management advice and fertilizer recommendations to local farmers by Interactive Voice Response (IVR) was suggested by IIRI scientists.

How will it work? It is through the power of the fingertips that farmers can ask questions about farming whereabouts. By simply dialling number on his mobile phone for free, he will be asked a series of questions to which he should respond by pressing a number on the phone keypad.

He will receive a text message after answering the questions which states the recommendations on the amounts, sources and timings of fertilizer applications for his specific rice paddy.

Farmers need not to worry because the language could be Filipino or English. Or their daughter or son could help them in case that they cannot use cell phones.

Initial testing of the program gained positive feedbacks from the farmers. With the efficiency of mobile phones, it could easily and directly reach the farmers even in remote areas.

There is no more smiling PNoy in Facebook. His profile picture is now a serious-looking photo uploaded after the president was chided because of his smile.

News from China showed some criticism on President Noynoy Aquino when he sat with the press for his official statement regarding the Manila Hostage Taking. They said he could smile despite of the tragic hostage drama.

PNoy then defended that he looks smiling even though he’s not. They “might have been misunderstood” him.

Criticisms regarding his smile flooded the Facebook page of the president. But it decreased after the week of the incident.

“I have several expressions. I smile when I’m happy, I smile when I’m faced with a very absurd situation, and if I offended certain people, I apologize to them,” he said.

The administration lead by Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma, is monitoring the page. They did not refrain the public from negative comments but they deleted the slanderous and profane ones.

On the other hand, as the week started, the page earned comments defending the president.

As of late, the administration is doing their steps in recovering the Philippines from the tragedy. A fact-finding report is expected to be submitted to the president in three weeks time. They want to make sure that the probe would be “thorough, impartial and comprehensive.

While there are still rallies from the citizens of Hong Kong bursting out anger and demands, the Philippine government is negotiating the delegations to China.

The Hong Kong Apple Daily released an anime reenactment of the hostage taking happened in Quirino Grandstand, Manila. It shows the summary of the hostage drama in almost 2 minutes.

It was 10:15 a.m. Monday in when Rolando Mendoza, 55 and married with three children, hijacked a bus with Chinese nationals who visited historic sites in the city of Manila. He wore a camouflage uniform and carried an M16 rifle. The rest of the incident id a history showed in the video below.

The video is posted in Youtube.

Animated Reenactment of Manila Hostage Taking

The bloodbath happened in front of a grandstand where Aquino had been sworn in as president on June 30. After midnight he was back there, staring at the bloodstained, bullet-riddled bus.

July 2010 Nursing Board Exam Results are out!

At least 37,679 out of 91,008 examinees passed the exams that were given in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, La Union, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Pampanga, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga last July 3 and 4, 2010.

According to the Professional regulation Commission a student from Ateneo de Naga named Rayan Abogado top the said Board Exam getting 86.80%.

All successful examinees who took their examination in Manila is expected to attend the oath-taking ceremonies for will be held before the Philippine Nursing Board on September 20 and 21 at 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.

Dear President Aquino,

The Hong Kong Journalists Association expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who died in Manila’s hostage tragedy. We also want to express our appreciation and respect to those who acted bravely and astutely during the long standoff, thus allowing some of the hostages to survive. We are, however, filled with anger and concern over the blame being heaped on the media for allegedly contributing to the tragedy.

The HKJA notes with concern that President Benigno Aquino of the Philippines made the media the scapegoat when he said: “Media coverage of his brother being taken into custody further agitated the hostage-taker…” Using this flimsy excuse, Mr. Aquino said he would consider imposing new restrictions on media coverage should a similar crisis occur.

We have no idea what further restrictions are under consideration but what we are sure of is that President Benigno Aquino’s words were uttered hastily and without careful consideration. Without a thorough investigation such conclusions cannot be taken seriously and the HKJA views the president’s hasty conclusions with grave misgivings.

The role of the media is to tell the world what is happening and what has happened. This is the essence of what the democratic world has come to know and to accept as freedom of the press and freedom of expression. The media’s presence is vital to the preservation of human rights of minorities in any conflict. As in the case of Manila’s killings, nobody can tell if the same tragedy would not have taken place without the presence of the media. What we can be sure of is that without the presence of the media no knowledge of this horrific tragedy would have been known to the outside world.

Moreover, the police force of the Philippines should have known that negotiations were going on between the gunman and his brother, and that this was being telecast. The act of arresting the brother would, clearly, irritate the gunman. Yet the police forcibly wrestled the brother down and handcuffed him, all directly in front of the media.

The police, clearly, had neither strategy nor the necessary know-how to deal with such a situation. With the development of the new media, it is unrealistic to ask the media not to broadcast live in a matter of huge public interest not only to the Filipinos themselves, but also to people in Hong Kong and elsewhere. Proper media arrangements, including a safe area for the media at the scene, in accordance with internationally accepted standards, are of paramount importance. None were forthcoming.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association calls on the Philippines government to refrain from using this incident to introduce harsh measures against the media in order to cover up their incompetence. We will closely monitor the incident and any further deterioration of press freedom in Philippines arising from this tragedy.

With Kind Regards,
Hong Kong Journalists Association

26th August 2010

A flash game of the 10-hour hostage taking incident at Quirino Grandstand in Manila was released by an unknown programmer.

The game was created by a certain author named “keybol” at the day of the hostage taking. It earned quick popularity among online gamers after it was published in Newgrounds.com as a flash game.

The game which features the same scenario as the Manila hostage drama is entitled “Bus Hostage Policeman”. The aim of the game is to shoot the rude policeman who hostage 25 Asian citizens in one-minute given time.

Moreover the tagline of the game says this: “”Seeking to arm-twist authorities into reinstating him back, a dismissed policeman has taken a bus with 25 passengers hostage here. Can you stop him and blow his brain?”

When the time runs out, regardless of how many times the policeman in the game is shot, a photo of dismissed PNP Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza is displayed along with the caption, “I want to be reinstated back to my job so I hostage these people.”

Below are the comments coming from the other users of the site:

“You totally didn’t just make a mockery of a tragic attack on innocent people,” sarcastically wrote user “chitoryu12″.

“do you even know what are the families of the hostages feeling? THINK FOR JESUS CHRIST!!!” added user “jmb13″

Perhaps, the game author believes that the game he created will easily gain popularity, which is true to reality.

After the hostage taking drama on Monday, Security Bureau of Hong Kong advised its citizens to avoid all travel to the Philippines. As expected, the said hostage crisis would affect much the tourism in our country.

The warning was released by the Security Bureau one hour after the 10-hour hostage incident. 4 Chinese nationals killed by the hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza, a former police officer. The incident ended when a SWAT sniper shot Mendoza in the head.

Before, our travel status with the Security Bureau is “amber alert warning”, meaning there were signs of threat. This is due to the rampant kidnapping incidents happened in our country. Unfortunately, it will be changed by the bureau to “black alert warning” meaning there are severe threats on the country’s security.

“The Chinese government demands the Philippine government launch a thorough investigation into the incident and inform the Chinese side of related details as soon as possible,” Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said, according to a statement posted on the ministry’s website late Monday.

Six of the hostages were confirmed alive. The rest of the passengers’ fate is still unknown.