Odds and Ends - 10/12

6 cops hurt in hostage-taking drill

MANILA, Philippines -- Six cops were slightly hurt when an accident marred a hostage-taking drill of the Manila Police District (MPD) late Monday afternoon...

As part of the scenario, a team of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) was supposed to conduct an assault on a group of hostage takers holed up inside the building. He explained that the SWAT team set off a flash bomb to start the assault but unfortunately, the explosive was blasted inside the building which had all its windows shut...

...but the MPD director, Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, maintained that nobody was hurt in the mishap...

“The windows of the building should have been left open to lessen the impact and the flash bomb should not have been set off inside the building,” Magtibay remarked.
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[First, it is good to know that nobody was really hurt, according to Supt. Magtibay. Well, just maybe a little red-faced. Hahaha.]
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Don't pocket relief funds, officials told

MANILA, Philippines - Rep. Satur Ocampo of the party-list group Bayan Muna appealed to corrupt officials and politicians involved in relief and rehabilitation efforts not to pocket funds intended for typhoon victims.
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[Siyenga naman. To all the corrupt officials and politicians, at least sit out the rehab efforts before you resume your corrupt ways. *sigh*]
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‘Across-the-board’ passing mark urged for typhoon-hit students

MANILA, Philippines – An "across-the-board" passing grade for all students affected by recent typhoons has been proposed by a senator on Monday.

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero said this should be given to affected students in elementary, high school, and college levels since their schools were no longer "usable" and they could no longer catch up with their lessons.
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[Fair enough for the students. But what grade to we give to the government officials responsible for their calamitous acts of negligence and corruption that fed this tragedy? How about an "across-the-board" failing grade to the entire government?]
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