On 23 August 2010, the world have witnessed the hostage taking drama live and beamed from ground zero, in the historic and prominent landmark in the center of Manila, Philippines that lasted about 11 hours. Primary victims were tourists and citizens from Hong Kong. It ended with total 8 casualties and several others were injured. Criticisms poured in as to the way it was handled by authorities and as it was covered by the media. The Government of Hong Kong immediately imposed TOTAL TRAVEL BAN to the Philippines as an act of dissappointment and retaliation. 
Let us see and analyze why it has taken so long before the authorities have taken action towards the incident. Analysis from my point of view guided by BASIC RULES OF ENGAGEMENT should have been applied by the Police and followed by Media people.
POLICE HOSTAGE TAKING SOP on the GROUND
1. ISOLATE the area from both physical and phsychological activities on the scene.
2. CONTAIN the area and deny everyone regarding police presence and activities.
3. EVALUATE and ASSESS the situation.
4. REPORT the whole scenario to identify the kind of operations and be able to find out if back ups are required and or special equipments and weapons are to be used beyond standard police operations.
Having been established the basic fundamentals, they will be able to move and conduct freely the operations without disruptions or obstructions and be able to establish the following:
1. STRATEGIC OPERATIONS COMMAND which serves as a center of logistics, liaison and coordination.
2. TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIVE EQUIPMENT TEAM to provide necessary equipments to be used in the operations.
3. CRISIS NEGOTIATION TEAM primarily to negotiate with the hostage taker and also serves as an informant and assesor of the actual scenario since the negotiator usually the one in contact physically with the suspect.
On the part of Media coverage, there is no specific guidelines and limitations airing an actual incident especially in the Philippines where press freedom is overtly practiced. On the part of the police, they failed to inform and restrict the live airing of the actual operations that may lead to agitate and jeopardize both the victms and the whole police operations.The media on the other hand failed to regulate themselves and no one has ever thought that broadcasting every details live could probably help the hostage taker advance his own interests and could lead to a more drastic action towards the victims.
What had transpired in the bloody Manila Hostage drama was a manifestation of an un-organized law enforcement unit and an abuse of press freedom enjoyed in our country. Primary thinking and focus of our media nowadays is just to get the best coverage and enjoy the priveledge of having an exclusive scoop notwithstanding the consequences it may bring. They have become intrusive to even go beyond what is reasonable.
"Clearly, both organizations have their own lapses and this should be a learning point of WHAT WENT WRONG so everyone can make ammend and improve for future incident and that may GOD forbids".
