Hostage taker laid to rest in Batangas

(Updated 3:57 am Aug. 29) A dismissed policeman at the center of Monday's hostage tragedy in Manila was laid to rest in his home province of Batangas Saturday afternoon. Radio dzRH reported that dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza was buried at the Himlayan Cemetery in Tanauan City at about 4 p.m. Friends and relatives attended a funeral mass at the St. John the Baptist Church shortly before the burial.
At Mendoza's funeral, his son Bismark, who is also a police officer, tearfully saluted as his father's coffin was lowered into the grave, according to an Associated Press report. He had earlier apologized for his father's action and expressed hope that good relations with Hong Kong citizens could be developed in the future. "On behalf of my family, I feel very sorry for the loss of your countrymen," he told a group of Hong Kong journalists on Thursday. During the funeral service, the Rev. Godofredo Mendoza, who is not related to the former officer, asked for prayers "for all who died" and that Mendoza "receive God's forgiveness." Mendoza, a bemedalled police officer, took hostage a busload of tourists from Hong Kong last Monday. He demanded his reinstatement in the police force and the dropping of criminal charges against him. The 11-hour standoff last Monday ended with Mendoza and eight of his hostages dead. "When he took hostages, all his decorations lost their meaning," Philippine National Police spokesman Agrimero Cruz earlier said Friday.—With AP report/JV, GMANews.TV