Hostage Taking Philippines | Quirino Grandstand | Hostage Taking

Hostage Taking Philippines - Quirino Grandstand - August 23, 2010

Photo is taken using my N70 phone from abs-cbn channel 2 broadcast.
More photos below.

I am currently watching the hostage drama on the television while I am writing this post. Details about the hostage taking is not yet complete, but here are some of the information that I know.

1.) The hostage taking started 7am today, August 23, 2010
                    (update: hostage drama started at around 9am)
2.) The initial hostages is 25 persons
3.) The hostage taking happened on the bus.
4.) The hostage taker released some of the children and old persons.
5.) The driver which was previously seen on handcuff somehow managed to jump off the window and escaped from the bus.
6.) The driver said that all of the remaining hostages inside the bus were all dead.
7.) The assault team had attempted to enter the bus, but some gun shots was fired by the hostage taker.
8.) The hostage taker's relatives were all arrested, and taken by force.
9.) Most hostages are foreigners.

Media men are all over the hostage area, all channels are monitoring the hostage taking, no commercial break.


Updates

13.) Ex - SPO2 Mendoza shots his automatic riffle, a civilian was hit and taken to the hospital
14.) Rain is getting heavier which prevents authorities to pursue any aggressive actions.
15.) This is suppose to be the last day of the hostages as tourists in the country.
16.) Another tear gas was thrown inside the bus.
17.) Gun shots were heard right after the tear gas was thrown.
18.) Many gun shots is again are heard.
19.) A body was hanging on the main door of the bus, seems to be dead.
20.) Authorities is trying to confirm if the hanging body is the hostage takers.
21.) Authorities are waving their hands, signaling that the area is clear
22.) The dead body is confirmed to be the hostage takers, hostage takers is dead.


23.) There are hostages found to be alive.
24.) Ambulance is taking the hostages.
25.) So far, four alive hostages are confirmed and rescued.
26.) Heavy rain is still pouring on the hostage taking area.
27.) Ron, abs-cbn's field reported said that the authorities retrieved guns and long knives.
28.) A woman was rescued from the bus, the woman is unconscious but was reported to be alive.
29.) Another woman was retrieved, but said to be dead.
30.) Hostage taker was gunned by a sniper.
31.) Two dead persons were confirmed dead.
32.) Another woman on her late 50s was rescued, she's walking.
33.) Ambulances are going back and forth to the hostage scene
34.) Another body was retrieved, unconfirmed if it's dead or just unconscious.

UPDATE:
(After the hostage taking drama)
35.) The full name of the hostage taker is ex - Sr. Inspector. Ronaldo Mendoza.
36.) Sniper is confirmed to have killed the hostage taker, hostage taker was hit on the head, authorities confirmed to the media on channel 7 that the reporter saw was the hostage taker's brain, according to the reporter's interview to the sniper himself.
37.) The hostage drama is now trending on twitter.



Media men are all over the hostage area, all channels are monitoring the hostage taking, no commercial break.


PHOTOS:

The three pictures above shows that the assault team is trying to get inside the bus.

Above - Policemen are on standby besides the bus

Above - The picture above shows the bus and the assault men on standby

Above - A brave unshielded policeman is trying to know the hostage taker's location.

Above - The bus on flat tire

Above - The assault team with their guns pointing on the bus

Picture above shows how close policemen on the bus.

Picture above shows the crowd of policemen with their guns pointing to the bus.

Above - A silhouette of the tensioned authorities while hostage taking is still in action.

Above - The bus and the authorities besides.

Picture above shows the aftermath of gunshots on the bus' wind shield.


The docked assault team with their gun ready.