Radio network scolded for interviewing Mendoza in the final hour

For supposedly giving hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza a venue to grandstand and air his chilling threats to kill people, Radyo Mo Nationwide (RMN) was scolded on Tuesday by a member of the committee investigating the tragic hostage-taking in Manila last August 23. On the fourth day of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee's (IIRC) proceedings, Filipino-Chinese community representative Teresita Ang-See berated RMN anchor Michael Rogas and RMN spokesman Jake Maderazo for supposedly giving more importance to their job of interviewing Mendoza than to their more urgent “human duty" to intercede in behalf of the hostages. Rogas repeatedly interviewed Mendoza in a series of phone conversations, from the time he received a letter from the Ombudsman until he snapped and began to shoot the hostages in a rampage that ultimately killed eight Hong Kong tourists. Policemen earlier testified that in those crucial minutes, they were not able to reach Mendoza because his phone line was busy. Ang-See asked Rogas, in an exasperated tone: "Hindi niyo naisip na kausapin siya (Mendoza), pakawalan na niya? Didn't you even make an appeal na pakawalan niya na? (Didn’t it cross your mind to talk to Mendoza to release them? Didn’t you even make an appeal for him to release them?) Rogas replied: "Actually ang layunin namin is ipaalam ang nangyayari." (Actually our objective was to report on the event.) An angry Ang-See retorted: "Ang ano ninyo ay ma-cover lang. Kahit papaano hindi niyo naisip, nasa line na kayo at that time. Kayo ang on the line, none of you even begged him. I know it's not your role (to negotiate), pero hindi niyo man lang (naisip) iyong human duty!" (You only thought of your coverage. It didn’t cross your minds at all that you were on the line at that time. You were the ones on the line, none of you even begged him. I know it's not your role to negotiate, but it didn’t even cross your minds to do your human duty!) But Maderazo justified the calls to Mendoza, citing "journalistic relevance." "It was already an international and political issue. So sa amin po (on our part), we just wanted to listen in and talk to the hostage-taker." "No, your first duty is (to protect) human lives," answered Ang-See. Maderazo replied: “Hindi namin alam na may negotiations, hindi namin alam na biglang iinit ang ulo niya (We didn’t know there were negotiations, we didn’t expect that he would flare up that way). We were going to appeal to him, and suddenly we were thrown into the situation." He also reminded the panel of the challenges facing a radio anchor. "Subukan po niyo maupo sa radyo at hindi niyo alam kung pano tatanungin, but pag nakaupo po kayo dun at alam niyong at stake ang lives (Just try and sit as radio anchor, and you don’t know how to ask your questions, but if you’re already on the spot and you knew that lives were at stake), we were caught between an altercation between the negotiator and the hostage-taker," he said. Ang-See replied: "Hindi niyo naisip na (Didn’t you realize that) precisely because you were covering him, that he was grandstanding all the while?" The Filipino-Chinese representative then reminded Maderazo about the experience with another hostage-taker in 2007, Jun Ducat, who also used media exposure to air his grievances. Maderazo insisted that the interview was justified, saying: "If there was no media, who would tell the story?" "Your profession is not more important than human life!" exclaimed a visibly incensed Ang-See. August 23 bloodbath In the morning of August 23, Mendoza hijacked the Hong Thai Travel tourist bus while it was leaving Fort Santiago, a popular tourist site, then commandeered it to the parade grounds fronting the Quirino Grandstand. On board the bus were 25 people — 21 Hong Kong tourists, Filipino driver Alberto Lubang, two Filipino photographers, and Filipina tour guide Diana Chan. During the siege's first few hours, he released a total of nine hostages. RMN's interview with Mendoza, which was interrupted by the line going dead about six times, showed Mendoza's change of mood. His temper was steady at first, then took two turns for the worse: First when he was dismayed upon reading the Ombudsman's letter, and second when he saw, through a television inside the bus, his brother being forcibly carried away by Manila policemen. Below are excerpts from the interview aired during Tuesday's hearing. At about 6: 02 p.m. Rogas: Ano ang plano ninyo? (What's your plan?) Mendoza: Ang aking demand ay dala ni vice mayor (Isko Moreno), at any time ay papunta siya sa akin. Malalaman natin ang laman ng kaniyang dala. (My demand is with the vice mayor, and any time he'll go back here. We will know the contents of what he has.) Rogas: Ano ang plano niyo kung hindi pabor? (So what's your plan if the results are not in your favor?) Mendoza: Imposibleng di pabor. (It's impossible for it to be unfavorable.) The Ombudsman's letter Later, chief negotiator Supt. Orlando Yebra and his assistant Chief Insp. Romeo Salvador arrived with the Ombudsman's letter. They were also with Mendoza's brother, SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza. At this point, Mendoza handed the phone to bus driver Alberto Lubang, presumably so he could open the envelope and read the letter. Rogas then asked Lubang to describe what was happening. Rogas: Pakiusap, huwag niyo pong ibaba. Kamusta po? (Please, don't hang it up. How are you doing?) Lubang: Okay, okay naman. Dala-dala yung papel galing Ombudsman. (Ok, it's ok. He has the papers from the Ombudsman.) Rogas: Ano po ang pangalan niyo? (What's your name?) Lubang: Alberto po, Lubang. (Alberto, sir, Lubang.) Rogas: Natanggap na ba ni Kapitan? (Has the Captain received it?) Lubang: Natanggap na po, katatanggap lang ngayon. (Yes, he received it just now.) Mendoza then read the letter, which said that Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez will review his pending case. Mendoza was then heard telling Yebra that the letter is "nothing, just garbage." Mendoza: Walang nilalaman yan eh, walang ibig sabihin nun, wala walang ibig sabihin nyan sir. Ang sinasabi nya lang paiimbistiga nya. Eh kung ganun din wala din mangyayari dyan, wala sir. Wala sa ‘kin ang papel na yan kapag yung sinabi nya yan dismiss na talaga, walang mangyayari dyan sir. (That letter contains nothing, it means nothing, sir, it really means absolutely nothing. She’s only saying she’ll have my case investigated. So if that’s true, then the case won’t go anywhere, nowhere, sir. That paper doesn’t mean anything to me unless she really says my case is already dismissed. Nothing will come out of that, sir.) Rogas: Ano po ang plano niyo? (What's your next plan, sir?) Mendoza: Ito, sasampulan ko to sir, tabi, magsialis kayo. Hindi ko kailangan yan. (This one, I’ll make an example of this one, step aside, you all go away. I don’t need that paper.) Rogas tried to make Mendoza calm down, saying "Kalma lang po tayo." But minutes later, a shot is heard. Mendoza still sounded angry, but stable enough to explain that it was a warning shot against Yebra. It was 6:21 p.m. that time. Angered by the letter, Mendoza had turned his ire against Yebra. Mendoza: Si Colonel Yebra, si Colonel Yebra po ang receiver. Kausap ko, sabi ko.. yung kapatid ko, eh dinisarmahan siya... tama po yun, pero nung nadala sa PCP (police community precinct) kausap ko si Colonel Yebra, sabi ibinalik na niya (ang baril), kasama si colonel Yebra … Sabi wala pa sa akin, kaya ayoko na kausap si colonel Yebra sinungaling siya. (Colonel Yebra is the receiver. I spoke to him, and told him they disarmed my brother … that’s right, but when he was brought to the PCP I spoke to Colonel Yebra who said he returned my brother’s gun. My brother told me he still doesn’t have his gun, so I don’t want to talk to Colonel Yebra, he’s a liar.) Tulfo Later, broadcaster Erwin Tulfo is heard on the line. He asked Mendoza about his earlier demand to speak with the media. Tulfo: Captain Mendoza, magandang gabi sa iyo ... Yung request po ninyo sa media, kanina pa pero di kayo pinayagan. Ano sabi ng crisis management committee? (Captain Mendoza, good evening to you ... Your request for media, it was a while back but you were not allowed. What did the crisis management committee say?) Mendoza: Eh walang dumarating, kanina ko pa nga naririnig, sabi natatakot raw, eh ‘kako ba't natatakot. Sabi ko ... sinungaling. (No one came here. I kept hearing what they said, the media's afraid. But I say, why are they afraid? I say, they're liars.) The line was cut for about a minute, then Rogas was able to speak with the driver who said the hostages were watching television. Mendoza, who saw on television that a SWAT team was deployed at the Quirino grandstand, again threatened to harm the hostages. Mendoza: Nakikita ko ang daming SWAT na dumarating, nakikita ko sa palibot, alam ko na papatayin din nila ako. Anytime gagawin ko rin yun dito. (I see a lot of SWAT approaching, I see them all around. I know they plan to kill me. Anytime I'm also going to do the same here.) Rogas: Sino talaga ang gusto niyo makausap maliban sa media? (Who do you really want to talk to, aside from media?) Mendoza: Eh yung pinaka-reliable na negotiator, yung tutuo ang sasabihin sa akin. (The most reliable negotiator, one who will be honest with me.) The line was again cut. Interview with hostage At about 7: 12 p.m. Tulfo was able to interview a female hostage identified as Yang Lee Wah, a 44-year-old Hong Kong national. De Lima said the woman was one of those who was later killed when Mendoza went on a rampage. Tulfo: Hello, this is Erwin Tulfo from the Philippine media. Are you a Chinese national? Can you speak English. Woman: A little bit, it's okay but we are... Rogas: What is your name? Woman: Yang Lee Wah, we stay in the bus, we are okay. Tulfo: Are you scared? Woman: Yeah, yeah, yeah... The woman said she had two children. Tulfo: Are they in the bus right now? Woman: One Tulfo: How old? Woman: 15 years old ... Shortly after, the woman said she couldn’t understand Tulfo’s follow-up question and said, “Pardon I don’t understand." Tulfo then told the woman to take care of herself, while Rogas asked her to give the cellphone again to Captain Mendoza. The brother's arrest Maderazo said that while they were interviewing the female hostage at about 7:16 p.m., Mendoza was watching television, which was showing the police taking his brother away. At this point, his speech signified extreme agitation, as he repeatedly threatened to kill the hostages unless the police immediately released his brother. Mendoza: Bakit ginaganyan ang kapatid ko, wala namang kasalanan yan. Tutuluyan ko na ‘to, pag di ‘to nabago… Nakikita ko binibitbit parang baboy! (Why are they doing that to my brother, he did no wrong. I’ll finish this one off if they don’t stop… I see them carrying him like a pig.) Rogas: Sandali. (Wait.) Mendoza: Baguhin nyo yan, mali yung ginagawa nila, ginagawa nilang baboy yung kapatid ko o. (Make them stop that, what they’re doing is wrong, they’re treating him like a pig.) Rogas: Kalma lang po! Kakausapin natin ang PNP, tatawagan natin ang PNP. (Calm down, sir! We’ll talk to the PNP, we’ll call the PNP.) Mendoza: Pakawalan nila ang kapatid ko, kundi magbabaril ako dito ng isa. Nakikita ko ang kapatid ko … walang kasalanan yan, pakawalan nila kapatid ko, pag hindi ... Sabihin mo sa kanila yan, ipakita mo na dito sa kaliwa, palakarin nila kapatid ko dyan, pag hindi… lahat lahat. (Tell them to free my brother, otherwise I’ll shoot one here. I see my brother… he did no wrong, they should free my brother. Otherwise… You tell them that, point to them the area here on the left, they should let my brother walk over here. Otherwise, everyone goes.) Rogas: Easy lamang po, kalma lang po! (Take it easy, sir, keep calm, sir!) Mendoza: Ayan o, binibitbit ang kapatid kong pulis, bakit nila binibitbit, sasabihin nilang accessory, ako lang, ako lang! Ayan o, nakikita ko ang ginagawa sa kapatid ko, pulis yan eh! Walang kasalanan yan, pakawalan nila yan. Ito, babarilin ko itong nasa unahan. (There, see, they’re carrying my brother, why are they carrying him, they claim he’s an accessory. I’m doing this alone, I’m alone. There, I see what they’re doing to my brother, but he’s a cop! He did no wrong, they should release him. Here, I’ll shoot this one in front.) The line was later cut off, but Mendoza returned to the line. The shooting Mendoza: Sabihin mo sa kanila, five minutes. Makakarinig ng putok, pag di pinakawalan yan! (Tell them, five minutes. They will hear a shot if they don’t free my brother.) Rogas: Erwin, pakilapitan ang pulis! (Erwin, go tell the police!) Tulfo: Ito, umaakyat na tayo! (Here, I’m going up there now!) Mendoza: May sumusuntok sa likuran. Pag di nila pinakawalan yan, babarilin ko itong nasa harapan. Pakawalan nyo na yan. (He’s being hit from behind. If they don’t release him, I'll shoot this one in front. Release him now!) Tulfo: Oo, tinatawagan na nila yung headquarters. (Yes, they’re already calling headquarters.) Mendoza: Di nila papakawalan yan? Pakawalan ninyo yan! (So they won't release him? Release him now!) Rogas: Wag kayo magpapaputok. Erwin, pakibilis lang, yung ground commander! (sir, don’t shoot. Erwin, hurry, the ground commander!) Mendoza: Pag di nyo pinakawalan yan, babarilin ko na ito, wala wala. (If you don’t set him free, I’ll shoot this one now. Time's up, time's up!) Rogas: Pakilapitan mismo yung may pulis na may hawak. Ayan na, ayan na! (Erwin, go straight to the cops holding him [Gregorio]. He [Mendoza] is about to do it now!) Mendoza: Pag di (garbled) pag di — yung kapatid ko, babarilin ko yung nasa unahan. (If they don’t, if they don’t — my brother, I’ll shoot the one in front.) Rogas: Captain Mendoza, Captain Mendoza! What was heard next was a series of gunshots, followed by screaming and crying. The start of the shooting happened between 7:23 and 7:28 p.m., explained Maderazo as he played the audio to probers and observers who attended the hearing. After the shooting, RMN tried to call Mendoza again and he was able to answer at 7:50. Mendoza: Wag niyo palapitin dito, dalawa (ang binaril), dadagdagan ko pa ito ... Bakit sila nanghuhuli, ako ang hulihin nila. (Don’t let them approach. There’s two, I will add more … Why are they arresting people, they want to arrest me.) Rogas: Kapitan Mendoza! Mendoza then cut the line. The time was 7:52 p.m. —JV/HS, GMANews.TV