Bloody Manila Hostage Drama
The former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, hitched a ride in a tourist bus loaded with 21 people, mostly Chinese nationals, and held all the passengers hostage and demanded for the review of his case and also for his reinstatement to the police force.
Rolando Mendoza, who was said to be terminated and dismissed from his position because he was among five officers who had been charged with robbery, extortion and grave threats after a Manila hotel chef filed a complaint alleging they falsely accused him of using drugs to extort money. Mendoza was fired last year but claimed he was innocent.
To air his grievances, he seized a tourist bus and held the passengers hostage. He was in full battle gear and armed with M16 rifle.
At first, the negotiation was peaceful. Nine hostages were freed. Police sealed the area and brought food for the hostages, some fuel to keep the bus air conditioning running and a telephone line to keep the communication on-going.
Gregorio, a brother of the hijacker and also a policeman, also helped in the negotiation but was later pulled away fearing he would only inflame the situation.
For that reason, Mendoza got angry and fired a shot. And that started the nightmare which led to the death of nine people including the hijacker himself.
It was a very sad day. A “big mistake to correct a big wrong decision” that led to the bloody nightmare…
