Gunman, 8 Hostages Killed In Philippine Standoff
Posted August 23, 2010 9:23 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The former policeman who held a busload of Chinese tourists hostage for a full day was shot dead by a sniper on Monday, but not before eight of those tourists were dead.
Four hostages were seen emerging from a Hong Thai Travel Services bus in downtown Manila, soon after 55-year-old Rolando Mendoza was killed and Philippine police advanced on the vehicle, firing shots at the tires and smashing its windows, door and windshield.
Officials have confirmed eight of the 15 hostages were killed after Mendoza fired his M16 rifle on the group and police also sprayed the bus with gunfire.
Earlier in the day, Mendoza had hitched a ride on the bus from the walled city of Intramuros and then announced he was taking the 24 passengers hostage when it reached Jose Rizal Park. Hours later, he released nine people – two women, three children, a diabetic man and three Filipinos. He demanded his job back before he would release any others.
A year ago, Mendoza and four other officers were charged with robbery, extortion and threatening a Manila hotel chef who said the policemen falsely accused him of using drugs so he would pay them money.
The tour group Mendoza had taken hostage had left Hong Kong for Manila on Friday and was scheduled to fly back on Monday.
