Hostage-taker dismissed Captain Rolando Mendoza just wants to be reinstated in the Philippine National Police.

This was reported by Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay to Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno Monday morning as news of the hostage-taking in Luneta was swirling.

Mendoza was dismissed from his post by the Ombudsman after several complaints were hurled his way.

Armed with an M-16 rifle, Mendoza took 25 hostages inside a bus, most of them Hong Kong tourists. At one point, two passengers asked to take a leak outside, which Mendoza agreed to. However, Magtibay directed them not to return to the bus.

Mayor Alfredo Lim and Moreno both agreed to stay away from the crime scene, to avoid making a "fair" out of the incident. However, Moreno later decided to go to the MPD to check on the situation.

Manila hostage-taking updates

See also:

• Palace meets with PNP on hostage drama
• Chinese Embassy to RP: ensure safety of hostage survivors
• Gunman killed; gov't gains control of bus
• Gov't debriefing hostages
• Manila hostage-taking over
• Philippine hostage crisis ends with several hostages alive
• Hostages at Rizal Park
• Hostage-taker a decorated cop with 17 medals
• Mendoza an 'honest' policeman
• Hostage-taker dismissed due to alleged extortion
• Hostage-taker just wants to be reinstated
• 8 passengers released from tourist bus hijacked in Manila
• 7 released in bus hostage taking
• Ex-policeman in Philippines holds tourists hostage