Bungled rescue draws online fire

The bungled rescue efforts by the Philippine police in the hostage-taking drama, televised live on international television channels, has drawn fire from Chinese online readers, who echo China's demand for Manila to explain what really happened.

By Tuesday, nine Hong Kong tourists have been confirmed dead, and several others are seriously wounded. A bus with 21 Hong Kong tourists aboard was hijacked in the Philippine capital of Manila Monday morning. After negotiations, six hostages were freed. On Monday night, Philippine police launched a rescue operation that resulted in heavy casualties.

Chinese online commentators question why the police could not be more patient and waited longer to launch the attack against the lone hijacker. "The police were supposed to be receptive to requirements of the hijacker, and engage the assaulter longer in negotiations, while not take risks to launch a bungled rescue," said one commentator.

Another said that Philippine police were less considerate of safeguarding personal security of the hostages, and on-spot police command and liaison activities were just chaotic, revealing "poor quality of the police force".

And many claim that the police were not well-prepared for incident, and lacked tactics in coping with the hijacker, a disgruntled former police officer.

A commentator said that he just shook his head witnessing the live telecast, saying it was the worst, most awful police rescue act he has seen so far.

The Chinese government Monday strongly condemned the hostage-taking of Chinese tourists and demanded the Philippine government thoroughly investigate the incident.

By People's Daily Online