Hostage-taker planned to run in barangay polls

Former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, the slain hostage-taker in Monday’s bloody hostage crisis in Manila, was planning to run for barangay captain in Tanauan, Batangas in the barangay elections this October. This was according to Mendoza's neighbor, Brgy. Capt. Emeterio Awitan of Barangay Banadero, who described him as “a good person." “To run for barangay captain . . . May plano lang siya," Awitan said in an interview aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras" Tuesday night. Mendoza, dismissed from the police service over charges of robbery-extortion, held hostage more than 20 mostly Hong Kong tourists for 11 hours inside a travel bus in Intramuros, Manila Monday. He was demanding, among others, his reinstatement to the police force.

The television report quoted Mendoza’s family as saying that he spent Monday morning sweeping their yard before leaving the house supposedly to return a firearm. Mendoza’s sister, Cathy Mendoza-Delgado, apologized to the hostages, the families of the eight slain tourists, and the Hong Kong officials on behalf of her brother and family. “[On] behalf of our family, ng aking kapatid na si Rolando Mendoza, ipinararating ko po sa Hong Kong government, para po sa mga pamilyang nadamay, sa mga anak nila, humihingi po kami ng kapatawaran kung ano man po ang nangyari," she said. (On behalf of our family and of my brother, I am apologizing to the Hong Kong government and to the affected families and their children to forgive us for what happened.) She also asked for understanding from fellow Filipinos as she noted the possible impact of the hostage crisis to the country’s image in the international community. “Ang inyo pong nararamdaman ay amin din pong nararamdaman sa mga oras na ito kaya inuulit ko po, humihingi kami ng kapatawaran sa nagawa ng aking kapatid (We are suffering just like you, so again we are apologizing for what my brother did)," Mendoza-Delgado said. Mendoza’s remains arrived at their house in Tanauan, Batangas shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday, according to “24 Oras." His father, 80-year-old Reynaldo Mendoza, was seen weeping in the report. The report said the family was surprised with what Mendoza did. - KBK, GMANews.TV