The order of the Office of the President to dismiss Deputy Ombudsman Emilio Gonzalez from the service for “gross neglect of duty, gross inefficiency and misconduct in office (that) amounted to a betrayal of the public trust reposed in him” in connection with the case of former Manila Police District Police Senior Inspector (Captain) Rolando del Rosario Mendoza gave credence to the latter’s claim that he was a victim of injustice.
Of course, no one condones how Mendoza demanded justice which was to hijack a tourist bus full of Hong Kong nationals on a holiday visit. At the end of a 10-hour crisis that showed bungling by authorities, eight of the Hong Kong nationals were killed.
The actions of President Aquino during and after the grim incident had set a chain of diplomatic bunglings that have lasting effect on relations with China.