There are a lot of things that one can find only in the Philippines. Our country has been a spot for tourists, and our people are known to be exceptionally warm and welcoming to foreigners. Yes, it is only here where one can find the chocolate hills and the Mayon. And yes, it is only here where a busload of Chinese tourists may be easily held hostage for one whole day, in broad daylight, in the middle of a busy intersection, and in the presence of our so-called professional police force.
The suspect, a former police, held 15 tourists hostage and would set them free under the condition that he would get his job back. Neglecting the safety of those innocent people, the corporation strictly declined, refusing compromise. In exchange for this beaming pride, 14 lives have been brutally taken away. Happy?
What is amazing about this issue is that one armed guy versus a whole fleet of police managed to carry out his plan successfully. It only adds to our disappointment in our country's false promises of security.
Welcome visitors! Explore our wretched country filled with strangers that would gladly slit your throat to make a point, or simply for the heck of it. Immerse yourselves in the sights and sounds of gunfight, bloodshed, and an occasional bombing. Wander through our peculiar streets, where people who have been too exposed to poverty can find no other means of obtaining sources for basic needs except to do the immoral. Welcome visitors, and be amazed, for it is only in the Philippines where a hostage victim who has experienced this much bullshit in one day and somehow managed to stay alive is considered to still be SAFE.