118
Erwin A. Alampay, Joselito C. Olpoc, and Regina M. Hechanova
Failed Rescue of Hong Kong Nationals
On August 23, 2010, a tourist bus with 25 people mainly from Hong Kong was hijacked
by a disgruntled police offi cer recently dismissed from the service. The hostage drama
unfolded before the eyes of the public and was made more spectacular by a zealous
press. When negotiations fell apart, the hostage taker started fi ring shots, which forced
the police to launch an assault. The hostage taker was killed in the fi nal police assault,
along with eight Hong Kong tourists.
9
As the event was unfolding, it was broadcast live over national television and
online. Hong Kong ’ s chief executive, Donald Tsang, tried to contact President Aquino.
However, even though the president had an offi cial telephone, mobile phone, and
e-mail and had a new media staff that presumably made him accessible on Twitter
and Facebook, Tsang was unable to connect with him as the crisis was escalating. In
the hours after the surviving hostages had been rescued, the president visited the site
of the carnage, and his pictures and message were again beamed through various
media, including the Internet.
This very open coverage is typical in the Philippines, where press freedom is highly
valued and the media are considered an active infl uence in keeping government in
check. This particular coverage, however, was also seen as contributing to the breakdown of negotiations, and also led to negative sentiments, not only from local citizens
but also from Hong Kong residents, which was all documented in many social media,
including the president ’ s offi cial Facebook page.
10
To their credit, President Aquino ’ s social media team initially did not fi lter the angry
postings by Chinese residents to his Facebook account during the highly emotional
and tragic events. Some of the messages posted said:
“ Shame on you and your government. Tender your resignation now. ”
“ Maaari po sana na paki training ang mga kapulisan at ang SWAT team o kaya naman
sibakin na po lahat. . . . nakakakahiya sa international community ang daming namatay
[Please either train the SWAT teams or fi re them all. It is embarrassing to the international community that many people died.]. ”
“ Your incompetence of leading your untrained stupid police force caused such a
tragedy. ”
“ We Hong Kong people are very angry for your comments. Please apologize to those
who were affected. ”
“ He ’ s [President Aquino ’ s] slowly killing our country coz [sic] of his stupidity. ”
“ You see, our president is a retard who has done nothing but smirk in front of the
TV cameras after all that has happened. ”
The administration ’ s openness, in this case, allowed people to vent anger, as it was
meant to do. At one point, Aquino ’ s new media team had to change his profi le picture
from a smiling one (which some found offensive or insensitive given the situation)
Erwin A. Alampay, Joselito C. Olpoc, and Regina M. Hechanova
Failed Rescue of Hong Kong Nationals
On August 23, 2010, a tourist bus with 25 people mainly from Hong Kong was hijacked
by a disgruntled police offi cer recently dismissed from the service. The hostage drama
unfolded before the eyes of the public and was made more spectacular by a zealous
press. When negotiations fell apart, the hostage taker started fi ring shots, which forced
the police to launch an assault. The hostage taker was killed in the fi nal police assault,
along with eight Hong Kong tourists.
9
As the event was unfolding, it was broadcast live over national television and
online. Hong Kong ’ s chief executive, Donald Tsang, tried to contact President Aquino.
However, even though the president had an offi cial telephone, mobile phone, and
e-mail and had a new media staff that presumably made him accessible on Twitter
and Facebook, Tsang was unable to connect with him as the crisis was escalating. In
the hours after the surviving hostages had been rescued, the president visited the site
of the carnage, and his pictures and message were again beamed through various
media, including the Internet.
This very open coverage is typical in the Philippines, where press freedom is highly
valued and the media are considered an active infl uence in keeping government in
check. This particular coverage, however, was also seen as contributing to the breakdown of negotiations, and also led to negative sentiments, not only from local citizens
but also from Hong Kong residents, which was all documented in many social media,
including the president ’ s offi cial Facebook page.
10
To their credit, President Aquino ’ s social media team initially did not fi lter the angry
postings by Chinese residents to his Facebook account during the highly emotional
and tragic events. Some of the messages posted said:
“ Shame on you and your government. Tender your resignation now. ”
“ Maaari po sana na paki training ang mga kapulisan at ang SWAT team o kaya naman
sibakin na po lahat. . . . nakakakahiya sa international community ang daming namatay
[Please either train the SWAT teams or fi re them all. It is embarrassing to the international community that many people died.]. ”
“ Your incompetence of leading your untrained stupid police force caused such a
tragedy. ”
“ We Hong Kong people are very angry for your comments. Please apologize to those
who were affected. ”
“ He ’ s [President Aquino ’ s] slowly killing our country coz [sic] of his stupidity. ”
“ You see, our president is a retard who has done nothing but smirk in front of the
TV cameras after all that has happened. ”
The administration ’ s openness, in this case, allowed people to vent anger, as it was
meant to do. At one point, Aquino ’ s new media team had to change his profi le picture
from a smiling one (which some found offensive or insensitive given the situation)