Philippine Crisis : The Collision of Government Power and Mass Media

What can happen when government power and mass media interfere with each other ?

Filipinos live in a democratic nation. Its government is a democratic, presidential and representative republic. The foundation of a democratic state is the election of representatives for each body or group of citizens. In a republic, elected officials hold power and they exert that power in accordance with the law. Today's technology improvements make it simple to get knowledge about government concerns with the aid of media platforms. 

Today's world depends heavily on the media. Every aspect of people's life include media. They are the global voices bringing reliable news. They serve as the public's spokesperson between the government and its citizens and are the pillars of truth, residing in a time of advanced technology where information is accessible with only a click. It disseminated the most recent news via a variety of media, including radio, television, newspapers and cellphones. A potent propaganda tool. They influence the way readers and listeners think through influencing public opinion. They act as the traveler's companions. When elections, tragedies, calamities and victories occur, they serve as the primary means of communication and information. Humans become aware of people's daily conditions. They provide information about a variety of events that occur throughout society. Senator Merriam Defensor Santiago stated that "Media are the ears and eyes of the people."

According to a CNN news source, "Nine people, including the hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza, died as a result of his abduction of a bus full of tourists from Hong Kong on August 23, 2010". When an armed man with an M16 and a revolver unexpectedly entered the bus with the passengers, the bus driver was taking a break and watching for the tourists to return from their Fort Santiago tour. According to bus driver Alberto Lubang, the man asked for a free trip. Alarmed, he gently denied the request. However, the man then abruptly ordered the passengers to obey him and claimed they were his captives. Twenty Hong Kong tourists, three Filipino tour guides and the bus driver are all present on board. The hostage-taker is Rolando Mendoza, a 55-year-old man. He was a former police officer who lost his job due to an alleged drug infraction, depriving him of all the advantages of retirement, which is just a year away. He was respected by the police department, well renowned for his diligence and formerly regarded as one of the best police officers in the Philippines. Mendoza had regularly contacted the Office of the Ombudsman months before the incident and claimed his innocence in regard to the accusations made against him.

The bus pulled there around 10 am and parked in front of Quirino Grandstand. Mendoza secured the driver in handcuffs to prevent him from fleeing. As soon as the police learned what was going on, they sped over to the area and the incident immediately attracted huge media attention across the globe. Col. Orlando Yebra and Mal. Romeo Salvador are Mendoza former colleague and were tasked to negotiate, as it goes by Mendoza informed them that he has only one demand which is “to be reinstated back to the police service” and if met Mendoza said “I will voluntarily surrender with handcuffed on“. The Special Action Force (SAF), an elite PNP unit, arrives at the scene on orders from the President, takes positions and disperses snipers throughout the Quirino Grandstand while the Manila Police SWAT Team prepares for the worst-case scenario by practicing a rescue operation to save the hostages lives. Isko Moreno, the vice Mayor of Manila, is en route to the Ombudsman to ask for Mendoza's request to be granted. After several rounds of discussion and a promise that his demands will be granted. Six tourists and two Filipinos were all freed by Mendoza, giving everyone hope that things are going well.

However, with the media frantically covering the stories left and right. Mendoza inside the bus has been watching the news being reported providing him with the live news coverage of everything that is going on, he got upset as he was being presented negatively in the news. Due to this he demanded for a media to go in and do an interview as it is significant for him to explain his side to the public . As it was unsafe the police decided not to send in the media . At about 1:30 in the afternoon, after an hours waiting for the media to come and as his demand were not answered he put a shocking signs at the window “media now 3 pm deadlock“ and he tell the negotiators that if his demands were not met he will execute one person. Someone entered the scene at around 2:00 PM, the police identify the man as SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, the brother of Rolando Mendoza. "I am here to help talk my brother out of it, to stop it," he claimed. However, Maj Romeo Salvador were alarmed when they saw a revolver in his holster, so they immediately disarmed Gregorio in front of his brother. However, after the uproar died down, the police begged Gregorio for assistance and urged his brother to extend the deadlock deadline. Cooperating, Gregorio called his brother and pleaded with him “don’t continue with the 3pm deadlock. I’ll explain to them our resentment first “ which Mendoza agreed on. He also received a call from Vice Mayor Isko Moreno at the Office of the Ombudsman informing him that his case is already taking progress.

A radio station was able to speak with Mendoza and conduct a live interview at six o'clock. "This is Michael Rogas of RMN," the reporter said. “What will you do if the ombudsman favors your demand or not ?” then Mendoza answered “its impossible that it will not be favor on me because all the documents says that I was falsely accused“. When the Ombudsman's judgment was announced, Mendoza instantly received the letter from the negotiator. Unfortunately he did not like what the letter says. The negotiators offered a solution to settle him down when he became enraged. Mendoza was informed by Col. Orlando Yebra that he will persuade his superior to obtain an order delaying the imposition of the punishment. Mendoza agreed to the suggestion. Yebra superiors, Manila Mayor Lim and General Magtibay, the ground commander, were unable to agree to halt the implementation.

Back at the grandstand, the media are uncontrollably competing for the best live coverage, revealing crucial information on air including the existence and positions of the snipers. Inside the bus, Mendoza sees everything and at the same time, the police are attempting to arrest Gregorio Mendoza for bringing a firearm to the hostage scene and for conspiring and disrupting a negotiation. The media then reacted quickly by focusing their cameras on Mendoza's distressed brother. For a reason that when Mendoza asked Col. Yebra if they had already returned his brother's firearms, Yebra falsely replied, "Yes" but Gregorio revealed, "They did not returned it yet." This enraged Mendoza, who said, "So Col Yebra is a liar, I won't negotiate with him anymore because he's a liar." Mendoza's rage reached its pinnacle while speaking to radio reporters inside the bus, saying, "I'm to blame; my brother is innocent; tell them to release him. If they don't stop treating my brother like a pig, who has nothing to do with this, I'll kill everyone inside," which Mendoza did and he started shooting the hostages.

Alberto Lubang, the bus driver escape and told the police, "Everybody is dead inside, they're all dead sir," assuming that everyone on board the bus was also dead. The SAF are now awaiting orders before beginning an operation. Ground Commander General Magtibay had a different plan for the situation and ordered the Manila Police SWAT Team to carry out the operation instead of SAF who were more qualified for the job and had better equipment. After receiving the order, the SWAT still carried out the operation as directed. They did every tricks to enter the bus but continuously failed. As the media reported on the dire situation, Mendoza was inside the bus watching every action and firing a gun as they tried every trick to get inside. Following a number of unsuccessful SWAT squad plans. Moments later, a new Ground Commander gave the Special Action Force (SAF) permission to take control of the situation. As soon as they did, a plan was quickly formulated. From the back of the bus, they threw a tear gas that choked Mendoza and forced him to flee in front, whereupon a sniper took aim and shot him once in the head, instantly killing him. Eight individuals are still alive inside, the rescuers discover as they arrive.

Government official’s lack of professionalism and the media's interference. In fact, had contributed to the crisis response by the police failure’s in general. Mendoza, the hostage-taker, is requesting that his demand be granted because he claimed to be essentially innocent. He has all the proof necessary to back up his claims that he can peacefully surrender, and to reduce the tension, he even freed captives. The Ombudsman, however, is ignoring those. The Police officers arresting his brother Gregorio for bringing a fire arm is not valid as he is also a police. The negotiators being a liars makes the scenario worst. Mendoza threathen to harm the hostages if the cops continue to arrest his brother and they still went on, with no valid reason and media shoving their camera’s on its face disgarding its individuality, which obviously ticked Mendoza off and soon shots were fired. They’re the obvious reason why the hostage taker was triggered, They should have realized that the safety of the hostages is much more vital in this scenario and that having an honest negotiation with the hostage taker is essential. The fact that the Commanders had a different strategy for the scenario made matters worse because they sent SWAT when SAF was already on the scene and could have sped up the operation. Instead of using a SAF squad with fully equipped weapons, a commander chose a SWAT police unit that was not completely prepared to carry out an attack. Although killing and using people in his problem, pulling them at this risk is unforgivable but still if someone would simply listen. If only someone had the potential to lead well. No blood will be shed.

The Media revealing every move of the snipers or police, reporting unconfirmed and bias words about Mendoza add fuels to the fire. Although the media makes an effort to do its job which is to inform the public about what is happening, it ultimately make things worse. As someone who is a journalism student during elementary and highschool. I have learn in there the importance and the duty of being an instrument of Mass Media so this situation is a strong evidence that powers should never be use in a risky situation when it is not necessary. Fully aware that the media must speak but an unintended echo that results from making private information public can cause a number of issues. Providing the public with accurate, trustworthy information is important, but so is reducing panic and encouraging people's comprehension of and cooperation with required restrictions. Media outlets and journalists should uphold the greatest standards of professionalism and ethics, give authoritative communications about the crisis first priority and avoid publishing and spreading unconfirmed stories. For the Police Officers, Mayors and leaders who take hold of the situation must take the biggest responsibility of the failure. The Government officers and the Journalist of the Mass Media both have the power over people to put it on the good or bad. This scenario shows that they both became careless and have prove to everyone that powers in the hands of negligent people will always be life threathening.