There is hope amidst the cacophony of confusion and shaking that is happening everywhere. The event that transpired last Monday (August 23), the infamous bus hostage taking at the Quirino grandstand that was watched around the world was supposed to be a showcase whether Noynoy and most Filipinos would value the life of their human fellows or allow themselves to be bound by the temporal convenience that has taken root upon almost everyone in this planet. Sadly, the 11 hour struggle that started at 10am in Intramuros had made us a laughingstock and derision among the nations. One hurting policeman who had nothing but gripes on the government and his fellow police officers took to rampage and shoot every one of those remaining Hong Kong tourists in the bus.

The ordeal was in fact too long, or long enough that I supposed, any wise and decisive leader could have handled the situation better than what was shown in the TV. Crisis situations need aggression and decisiveness on the part of the leadership involved. When life and death situations arise, we should stop analysing on other sides of the matter but take courage to simply focus on saving first the lives of those who are in danger. It cannot be the other way around. As Peter Lord says, we are to keep the main thing the main thing, and as policemen tasked to serve and protect the lives of every man and woman and child, saving them from harm should have been the utmost goal, not worrying about any image or face that we protect.

It is impossible not to admit the many lapses, where was Noynoy during the crisis? Where was the DILG secretary? Where was the crisis committee that was to handle the situation quickly and pacify the aggrieved officer? These questions are currently being investigated and I hope that we do not stop from there but the end result of this embarrassing exposure before our countrymen and the world would result to a stronger and more professional police force that is attuned to their calling, to serve and protect lives! There is really no point to blame the previous administration whether she just allowed the case of Captain Rolando Mendoza to get to nowhere and give a baseless judgement on his case following an accusation on the unit headed by the captain. Neither can we put all the blame on the media coverage because we understand that this is the way they handle things- to uncover, investigate then to show it to the world as it happens.

Even so, all the mistakes could have been avoided, had the leaders quickly decided to reinstate the police officer and then disarmed him and put him into jail. Apparently there was confusion among the leaders about which to follow: give in to the conditions of the grieving policeman and save all those in the bus, or simply review the case and not to listen to him, after all he had no right to complain, being a police officer dismissed from the service. The first one fulfils the main goal of every policeman, to serve and protect, while the second one is more complicated and it seems this was the reasoning that the decision makers have followed. In every major decision making that I have followed, whether marrying my wife, having children, getting into the graduate school or leaving my family for a period of time and study, the longest period for me to decide on the matter is not one week or one month, but a day or a few days.

I always base my decisions on the information that I have at hand, for example, on having a wife, it is good for someone who struggles against lust, against loneliness and against depression. Having a family of your own could be one of the greatest blessings on earth, where joy, happiness, victory, sorrows and defeats are shared. Likewise, on deciding about the number of children that we can handle, it is good to have children whom we can feed, clothe and educate without necessarily decreasing their chances of obtaining sufficient food, clothing and education to fulfil their dreams.

On studying for my degrees, I also decided whether this can help me in the future e.g. to obtain a better job, better salary or fulfils an area of my passion and interest. There is one caveat to every one of these decisions however; I believe that I am not capable of living on my own without the help and guidance of the Almighty. I believe that I cannot do anything significant without the strength and anointing that also comes from Him. I do not presume that everything in this life is easy for I have understood that to live on earth, one must live steadfast in obedience and love of God to triumph against evil and fulfil your destiny.

In fact, there is no random chance, I pray and tell the Lord that this is what I know and understand about a matter. I hope in the Lord to guide me and show me where I lack that I may obtain further necessary things needed or required for me to get the best results. The Lord never appeared to me in human form and told me what to do. But I sought books, articles, friends who are knowledgeable of the matter, have experienced similar situations and triumphed over them. After crafting my decision and asking myself, if this is good, sensible, practicable, truthful and godly and gives me peace, I give a go on it. James laid down the best decision making guide one could ever have on earth, whether you are a scientist, businessman, employee or a manager it makes sense to follow.

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.  This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.  And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13-18

Unless there is peace in your heart about the decision that you are making after much deliberation in your mind or with other people, leave it there and keep praying to God to enlighten you on the matter. The children of God are supposed to receive guidance not from a sorcerer, horoscope or talebearer but from the inward witness of the Holy Spirit and from the Bible. We are supposed to “go out with joy and be led forth with peace” (Isaiah 55:12) “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.  So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (Romans 14:17-19). As these verses tell us, we are supposed to pursue things which make for peace and build up one another. Clearly, these guidelines were not followed in solving the crisis situation and the violation of this rule, to make for peace and to build up one another, ended in cold blood murder of the innocent.

The protection of life and property is the basis of all civil authority. This was the reason why Paul the apostle wrote that every authority under heaven is from God, because civil authority is a delegated authority from God to punish the evil doers, keep peace and order that is why they bear the sword. Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves (Romans 13:1-2).

There are two kinds of authorities delegated on earth, spiritual and civil authority, those in the government are given the grace to use the sword or their weapons to protect civilians and their properties when there is harm intended to keep peace and order. By confusing which area these authorities work, there will be every evil and darkness in it. This is the main reason why the greatest darkness happened during the Middle Ages when the Church forgot that her authority is not to be the government but to inspire love and obedience among the people to obey their leaders.

We are still thankful though that there were lives spared, however, the blunder at this point in time remains a black eye to the nation and we must do well to extend our condolences and prayers to the families of those who died. Had we been more vigilant, more proactive in solving the crisis situation, we could have won over the situation peacefully. Let us continue to pray that God will help our cops in uniform to have the courage, strength and the wisdom to overcome such situations. There is a good reason to believe that not all cops are bad or evil, though in every rank and file, there are always those who rate poorly because they are not fit or truly called for the job.

We cannot judge the whole police department because of one police officer who decided to rebel and take vengeance by killing innocent people. Obviously, this calls us to form an elite force that are devoted and trained especially for resolving such situations. It has also highlighted the way Noynoy works and his team, putting everyone who had hang their hopes to man, that it is futile to put confidence in man but always better to put your hope and trust in God. No matter how credible and blameless one person can be the only valid source of hope and strength during these times is the Lord. As David puts, “it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Psalms 118:8-9 NKJV).