VIENNA, Austria - Almost 4 days after the hostage drama in the Philippines, Filipinos and other nationalities worldwide are still discussing the tragedy.

Filipinos and Austrians were saddened that a pleasure trip in the Philippines would end up with a death toll of 9 people, including 8 tourists and the hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza.

Pinoy migrant Emerson Simpliciano said such an incident could happen anywhere in the world. However, he criticized the police and negotiators for being “amateurs” in dealing with the situation.

“Honestly speaking, the Philippine SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics unit), police and negotiator, including the ground commander, are amateurs with this kind of hostage situation. My family prays for the lost lives,” he said.

Volet Sb Gerstl, editor of the Philippine-European Bulletin in Austria, said the tragedy showed just how incapable the Philippine National Police is in coping with such situation.

“It seems no one with enough authority was in command, and control of the situation. Officers and men of the unit assigned to the task must all be dismissed,” said Gerstl.

Gerstl noted that the matter worsened when police arrested Mendoza’s brother.
 
“It drove him to become desperate and ready to die,” Gerstl said.

A Filipina teacher in Vienna, meanwhile, said that President Benigno Aquino III could have prevented a bloody ending.

“Philippine President Noynoy Aquino could have acted immediately on the demand of the hostage-taker by using his executive power for the sake of saving the lives of the innocent tourists who are contributing to the Philippine tourism industry,” the teacher said.

Austrian lawyer Georg Schauberg hopes that the tragedy will not sever the good ties between the Chinese and Filipinos.

“I hope and pray that the fault of one hopeless Filipino will not be blamed and hold accountable to the whole country of the Republic of the Philippines,” Schauberg said.

A Chinese-Filipino living in Vienna who does not want to be identified said he seems as "very irresponsible" racist comments posted in different social networks against Filipinos and the Philippines.

“Terrorism happens everywhere and although I sympathize with the victims of the incident, I also condemn the incompetence of the Filipino police in handling hostage crime,” the Pinoy-Chinese said.

An Austrian doctor meanwhile said the hostage crisis does not reflect the entire Filipino people.

“There are so many friendly and helpful Filipinos working in our hospitals all over Austria. They are an integral part of our health system. They are so nice to us. The only mistake is the government's handling of the hostage case. It is very unprofessional,” the doctor said.