By Raïssa Robles

This question was angrily raised to me by a source who was asked to help repair the damage wrought by the tragic, senseless deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists a week ago.

The source, of unquestionable integrity, told me that Versoza flew to Cagayan de Oro (not Cagayan) in the southern island of Mindanao at 3 o’clock that afternoon of August 23, 2010.

If you recall, 3 pm was the very hour the rogue cop, Rolando Mendoza, had earlier warned that things will get stickier.

At 2:05 p.m., Mendoza had put up a sign saying:

Big deal will start after 3 p.m. today.

Is it safe to assume Versoza knew of that sign, which all TV and radio networks repeated again and again that early Monday afternoon?

I don’t know. His official spokesman Agrimero Cruz has refused to clarify this. Cruz is one spokesman who has refused to speak to the media on what Versoza was doing on that day. When I call, either he does not answer his phone (which just keeps ringing) or he tells me:

I am not authorized to speak on that matter.

Cruz was not physically present at the Quirino Grandstand where the hostage bus was parked, nor at the Police Community Precinct (at the back of Manila Hotel) which was used as the Command Post by the ground commander of the hostage crisis, Manila Police District Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay. (MPD is the old Western Police District.)

A senior police officer denied to me that Versoza had left on that very day. He told me Versoza had left “the day before”. But when I asked why Versoza had not hopped back on a plane on the day of the hostage-taking, the phone line went dead.

Just to make sure, I asked a senior government source if Versoza had indeed left Manila at 3 p.m. that horrible day. The source replied tersely by text:

Yes.

Two nights ago, the media finally cornered Versoza about his being MIA (missing in action) that day. Versoza confirmed he was in Mindanao in connection with some peace and order gathering. But he said he was constantly monitoring the situation.

I don’t believe it. All the top honchos in government were simply “monitoring” that day. Who, above Magtibay, was taking command of the situation, evaluating it from a larger perspective so things didn’t go horribly wrong?

The line of command that day went this way :

Manila police chief Rodolfo Magtibay > Metropolitan Police chief Leocadio Santiago > National Plice chief Jesus Versoza

I commiserate with Santiago. He doesn’t need to take the fall for his superior. Santiago was hovering around that day, assessing the situation, offering all the help to Magtibay, who tragically refused.

The buck that day stopped with Versoza. It was Versoza who could have ordered Magtibay to accept the help of the Special Action Force under Santiago and other elite units. Or overruled Magtibay on when to neutralize the rogue cop Mendoza. But Versoza was not there to do it.

Sigh.

I’m still gnashing my teeth over this.

Survivor tells of fearful hours on ill-fated bus

By Ng Yuk-hang

Updated on Aug 30, 2010

[My newspaper, SCMP, is allowing me to post stories on the Manila bus tragedy in the hopes that this will lead to reforms and greater understanding.]

“If only we had been braver to unite and attack the gunman, things might have turned out differently. Regrettably, there are no `ifs’ in history.”

So writes 36-year-old Lee Ying-chuen, a survivor of the Manila hostage tragedy who escaped with minor injuries.

Survivor Lee Ying-chuen said in a 5,000 word essay that angrily spoke to Kris Aquino when she visited her - PHOTO courtesy of SCMP

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Protesters march in silence to express anger over handling of bus hostage tragedy

By Ng Kang-chung and Tanna Chong

Updated on Aug 30, 2010

[My newspaper, the SCMP, is allowing me to post stories on the bus tragedy in the hope that it will foster greater understanding.]

Thousands marched in silence yesterday to express their anger at Manila’s handling of last Monday’s tour bus hijacking in which eight Hongkongers were killed.

Isn't it interesting that YELLOW is also a protest symbol in Hong Kong? Yesterday, marchers tied yellows ribbon outside Hong Kong's Legislative Council to pay respects to the victims of the Manila bus hostage tragedy. - PHOTO courtesy of SCMP

The demonstrators, most of whom wore black or white clothes, marched on Hong Kong Island, demanding justice for the victims.

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Since the Quirino Grandstand massacre happened, a lot of racist bile has been disgorged on both sides of the South China Sea.

Today after a mammoth rally in Hong Kong to demand a genuine and just inquiry over  the senseless deaths, someone named wkyee wrote a comment on my blog asking Filipinos to understand why it was important for Hong Kong to hold the street protest:

I hope you understand that we want to use this march to express our condolences to all families involved in this tragedy and to show that we all want the truth as soon as possible. It’s not a race discrimination and we are not against Filipinos.

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By Raïssa Robles

I was seated before the same plastic picnic table at the Rizal Park complex with the hostage taker’s older brother, Ignacio Mendoza.

I sat with Ignacio Mendoza, the gun man's older brother - PHOTO by Raissa Robles

It was past lunchtime. Ignacio was slurping some hot instant noodles he had bought off the same food stall where I was recharging my cellphone.

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