A dismissed police officer hijacked a tourist bus in Manila's Rizal Park on August 23, 2010, killing 8 hostages over a 10-hour standoff with police. Two government committees investigated and found failures in crisis response, training, and communication. They recommended criminal charges and reforms to protocols. The incident exposed weaknesses addressed through new policies, training, and an independent review of similar incidents.

1. Timeline based on the information found in the First Report of the Incident Investigation and Review
Committee (IIRC) on the Rizal Park Hostage Taking Incident published on September 17, 2010:
August 23, 2010
• A bus carrying 25 people, including 20 Hong Kong tourists and their Filipino tour guide, was
hijacked by dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza, who boarded the bus disguised as a policeman.
• The bus was parked near the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, with 22 people on board after three
of the hostages were released.
August 24, 2010
• Negotiations between the Philippine authorities and Mendoza lasted for around 10 hours but
eventually broke down.
• Shots were fired from the bus, triggering a chaotic exchange of gunfire between Mendoza and
the police.
• By the end of the siege, eight hostages were killed, including Mendoza, and several others were
injured.
August 25, 2010
• The Philippine government formed the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) to
investigate the incident and determine the circumstances that led to the tragic outcome.
• The IIRC was tasked to submit a report and recommendations to President Benigno S. Aquino III
within 15 days.
August 26, 2010
• The Philippine government offered a formal apology to the families of the victims and the
government of Hong Kong.
September 7, 2010
• The IIRC submitted its preliminary report to President Aquino.
• The report identified serious lapses in the handling of the hostage crisis, including poor
coordination among government agencies, inadequate training of the police, and insufficient
communication with the media.
September 13, 2010
• President Aquino extended the IIRC's deadline to submit its final report and recommendations
to September 17, 2010.
September 17, 2010
• The IIRC released its First Report on the Rizal Park Hostage Taking Incident.

2. • The report recommended the filing of administrative and criminal charges against several
individuals, including high-ranking police officials and members of the media.
• The report also called for a comprehensive review of the Philippine National Police's (PNP) crisis
management protocols and the creation of a separate unit to handle hostage-taking incidents.
• The IIRC's report was widely criticized for its alleged bias and incomplete investigation,
prompting the Philippine government to form a new independent commission to conduct a further
inquiry.
September 27, 2010
• The Philippine government formed a new independent commission, the Incident Investigation
and Review Committee II (IIRC II), to conduct a further inquiry into the incident.
• The IIRC II was given 60 days to complete its investigation and submit its report and
recommendations to President Aquino.
November 12, 2010
• The IIRC II submitted its report to President Aquino, which recommended the filing of criminal
charges against several high-ranking officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
• The report also identified several areas for improvement in the handling of hostage situations,
such as the need for more comprehensive training for crisis management and hostage negotiation, and
the establishment of clear protocols for the handling of hostage situations.
November 15, 2010
• President Aquino announced that he would create a task force to review the recommendations
of the IIRC II and determine appropriate action.
November 17, 2010
• The Philippine government announced that it would provide compensation to the families of the
victims of the hostage-taking incident, including financial assistance and educational scholarships for
their children.
December 2, 2010
• The Philippine National Police (PNP) filed criminal charges against several of its high-ranking
officials and officers, including the former head of the Manila Police District, for their alleged negligence
in handling the hostage crisis.
February 2, 2011
• The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed criminal charges against several government officials and
members of the media for their alleged role in the hostage-taking incident.
May 5, 2011

3. • The DOJ dismissed the criminal charges against several media personalities and government
officials, citing lack of probable cause.
• The families of the victims expressed their disappointment and frustration with the decision.
The Rizal Park hostage-taking incident remains one of the most tragic incidents in Philippine history and
has prompted significant reforms in the country's crisis management protocols and law enforcement
practices.