4 hostages may have died at the height of bus assault

Four of the eight fatalities in the August 23 hostage tragedy may have died at the height of the Manila police's assault against disgruntled policeman Rolando Mendoza. This was revealed on Friday by Roan Libarios, a member of the body probing the hostage tragedy, when he grilled Manila Police District head Rodolfo Magtibay. Magtibay is on leave following his men's bungled rescue attempt last August 23.
"Four of the Hong Kong nationals sustained the gunfire as a result of the assault. Would you consider that (assault) successful, with the deaths of the four as a result of the assault?" asked Libarios, the representative of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. He noted that the detail was brought up during an earlier executive session with Philippine National Police head Director General Jesus Verzosa. Magtibay only replied that the MPD's SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team did their best and made the most of their limited equipment. "The situation faced by the SWAT team was really very hard, sir. They were under fire. In fact, one was hit, and if not for his Kevlar helmet and shield, he could have been a casualty," replied Magtibay. However, Interior Sec. Jesse Robredo interrupted Libarios' questioning and asked Magtibay to confirm whether the four hostages died at the height of the assault. "Are you confirming that four of them died (during the assault)?" asked Roberdo. To which, Magtibay replied: "I am not (confirming). I'm just following the line of questioning (of Libarios)."—Sophia Dedace/JV, GMANews.TV