"The President has been meeting with the police, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officials and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. As of now four hostages dead, one in critical condition. We will be issuing a statement later tonight," Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters in Malacañang Monday late evening.

Lacierda declined to comment where the meeting was being held.

He said Aquino monitored the hostage drama the whole day.

Unconfirmed information from the Palace said the President was to visit the freed injured hostages in the hospitals.

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