MANILA, Philippines (9th UPDATE) - A lone hostage-taker has released 9 of 25 hostages on board a hijacked tourist bus in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila on Monday.
Police said dismissed police officer Rolando del Rosario Mendoza released photographer Danilo Medril, 65, at 4:26 p.m.
Director Leocadio Santiago, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief, said police are still negotiating with Mendoza after he demanded that he be reinstated to the service after being dismissed due to an extortion complaint.
"As of now, we are explaining that there are avenues that he can avail of so that his grievances can be acted on. He agreed to that and he is waiting for some results on our actions," he told ANC.
"Right now, we are just showing that as a former police officer, there is a process that we should follow and that everything that we can do we are doing now to resolve the situation without bloodshed," he added.
The hostage-taker has demanded food for the hostages and gasoline to keep the bus running, both of which have been provided by police. A demand for a media interview has yet to be agreed on.
Mendoza boarded the Hong Thai Travel bus, with 22 Chinese nationals from Hong Kong (not South Koreans as earlier reported) and 3 Filipinos, at Fort Santiago in the city of Manila at around 9 a.m.
Police said Mendoza is sporting a long firearm, possibly an M-16 rifle, inside the bus. At least two police officers, Superintendent Orlando Yebra Jr. and Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador, are negotiating with the hostage-taker.
None of the hostages has been hurt, authorities said.
Mendoza released 2 of the Chinese hostages Monday morning after they asked to go to the bathroom. At noon, the hostage-taker released 4 more foreigners--3 children and their guardian. An elderly male hostage was also freed at 1:27 p.m., followed by another male hostage at 2:35 p.m.
Aside from Nebril, the released hostages are Li Fung Kwan, Tsang Yee Lai, 4-year-old Fu Chung Yin, 10-year-old Fu Chak Yin, 11-year-old Wong Ching Yat Jason, 73-year-old Li Yick Biu, Rigor Cruz and one unnamed Filipino.
Authorities said Mendoza, a former senior police inspector assigned to the Manila Police District, was dismissed from the service in 2009 due to an extortion incident 2 years ago.
Complainant Christian Kalaw said Mendoza and 4 other police officers accused him of illegal use of drugs and forced him to swallow shabu inside his car in Manila last April 9, 2008.
The complainant later filed charges of robbery, robbery-extortion, grave threats and physical injuries against the 5, which led to their dismissal following a recommendation from the Office of the Ombudsman.
Mendoza hijacked the tourist bus to force authorities to fast-track a review of his administrative case. He also wants to be reinstated to the service and all benefits and privileges restored, police said.
Sacked due to 'command responsibility'
Relatives of the hostage-taker, meanwhile, said they were surprised by Mendoza's actions.
His brother, Senior Police Officer 2 Gregorio Mendoza of the MPD Traffic Investigation Unit, said Rolando was not involved in the extortion case but was sacked because of command responsibility.
He said the dismissed police officer was disgruntled because his case was not being reviewed quickly enough. He said his brother contemplated filing an impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez for recommending his dismissal last January.
He said his brother was just about to reach retirement age after 31 years in the police force.
"Ang problema lang niya ay yung pagtanggal sa kanya ng PNP na ang katwiran niya ay walang hustisya ang pagtanggal. Naka-receive siya ng order this year. He was removed by the Ombudsman without due process, no hearing, no complainant," he told ANC.
Mendoza tried to approach the bus past noon Monday but was stopped by police. He later appealed to the police to let him speak to his brother.
It was learned that the hostage-taker is a former recipient of the 1986 Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines (TOPP) of the Jaycees International.
An ANC report said the hostage-taker has 3 children including a seaman, a police officer and a daughter who had just graduated cum laude from college.
"The family is not really lacking in resources because the children are all professionals. They are not exactly cash-strapped," a report by ABS-CBN correspondent Atom Araullo said.
Mendoza's father, Leonardo, said he had no inkling that his son would conduct a hostage situation. He said he was also hurt by allegations that his son was involved in robbery and extortion activities.
He also appealed to President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to give his son a chance to air his side. "Kung maaari ay yung tama ay pairalin. (Kay Noynoy ) Unawain ni Presidente kung ano ang kaso ng anak ko at kung paano siya nagkaganun," he said.
A statement from Malacañang Palace, meanwhile, said President Benigno Aquino III has been informed of the hostage situation. "The Palace is asking the hostage-taker to honor and respect the lives of the hostages," the statement read.
The hostage-incident recalled the 2007 hostage-taking involving 26 children on board a tourist bus at the Manila City Hall, which is near Rizal Park. The hostage-taker, engineer Armando "Jun" Ducat, demanded scholarships for students of his day care center in Tondo.
