ROME – Filipinos based in Italy are also feeling the negative impact of the hostage crisis in Manila.
 
Christopher Bonzon, 19, felt bad about the result of the August 23 hostage drama. Bonzon said he has been receiving dagger looks after the incident.

“Nasa work ako noon napapansin ko na there was a Chinese, a Japanese na tinitigan ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako tinitingan ng ganun. At one point, tinanong ako kung I am a Filipino then tinanong niya ako kung alam ko daw ang nagyayari sa Pilipinas. Yes, nakita ko po nga iyon and I was really sorry for what happened in the Philippines. I was really embarrassed,” said Bonzon.

Bonzon’s father, Egay, is worried that the incident might taint the image of Filipinos working abroad.

“Malaking dagok na naman ito sa ating mga Pilipino. Bagamat tinatawag ito ng Malacañang na isolated case pero ang epekto nito ay buong mundo lalung-lalo na sa ating mga OFWs particular na sa Hong Kong," said Egay, who is also a member of Migrante International in Rome.

The Guardians Ex-military and Police Associations or GEMPA in Rome believes that there were lapses in responding to the hostage crisis.

“Hindi nila sinunod ang standard operating procedure na kung saan nag-rely sila sa sinabi ng driver na patay na ang lahat ng tao doon sa bus at hindi nila kinorfirm iyong report ng driver,” said GEMPA’s founder/organizer Robert Gutierrez.
 
“Siguro kung nagkaroon ng magandang negosasyon ito hindi umabot sa ganung sitwasyon. Pangalawa, kulang sa evaluation,” said GEMPA Liaison officer Felipe Kingay.

Other Pinoys said the incident should not be blamed on the entire Filipino community and that OFWs should not be made to pay for one man’s mistake.

“Ang masasabi ko lang diyan na kung ano ang kasalanan ni Pedro ay hindi kasalan ni Juan," said OFW Reynaldo Tica.

The Philippine Embassy in Rome already offered their condolences to the families of the victims.  

“We actually circulated to the diplomatic corps and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a note verbale, expressing the grief and how we are joining the people of Hong Kong in this sad event,” said Ambassador Romeo Manalo.