Negotiator: I wanted to subdue hostage-taker but I was not allowed

One of the two negotiators in the Luneta hostage admitted on Saturday he had wanted to subdue hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza when he had the chance, but he was prevented from doing so. Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador, who stood as assistant negotiator during the August 23 hostage crisis, told members of the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) that he had the opportunity to jump at Mendoza early on in the negotiations when got close to the hostage-taker.
Salvador said he sought a permission so he can execute his plan, but Superintendent Orlando Yebra, main negotiator, disagreed. "May time na magkalapit kami ni Mendoza... I recommended na dambahin ko na lang the first time na nagkalapit kami," Salvador said. "Pero hindi ako pinayagn ni Col. Yebra kasi hindi daw naaayon iyon sa hostage manual," the police officer added. But Salvador said he was certain he could subdue Mendoza by himself, even if Mendoza always had his finger on the trigger of his M16 rifle and could possibly open fire anytime. "If they authorized me, I would have done it... I can subdue Mendoza by myself," Salvador added. Salvador said he could likewise not carry out his plan to spring at Mendoza because Yebra "Was facing me." At that time, Salvador was standing right outside the bus's front door, while Yebra was standing on the steps of the door. Salvador said with much prodding, Yebra was ultimately able to convince Mendoza to allow him to get inside the bus. "Sabi niya [Yebra kay Mendoza], naha-high blood ako. Baka puwede ako malamigan [sa loob ng bus]," Salvador recounted Yebra asking Mendoza. — LBG, GMANews.TV