Hostage-taker's brod released after posting P100K bail

The policeman-brother of the slain hostage-taker in last year's Manila hostage crisis gained his temporary freedom after posting a P100,000 bail. SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza raised the amount after a Manila court handling his case agreed to lower his bail from P200,000 to P100,000. "Ako po ay nangangako sa lahat ng tao, sa buong bansa, ako [ay] magiging si SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza at walang harassment o iniisip na masama (I promise everyone I will be SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, with no ill will toward anyone)," Mendoza said before leaving the National Bureau of Investigation headquarters where he was briefly "detained," according to a report by radio dzBB's Cecilia Villarosa. He added all he wanted was "tamang hustisya (due process)."

The dzBB report quoted Mendoza as saying he borrowed the money from relatives to raise the P100,000 cash bond. Mendoza earlier appealed to the court through his lawyer Romulo Macalintal to lower the P200,000 bail as he could not afford it. After he posted the cash bond, the court issued an order for his temporary release. Mendoza's brother, dismissed Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, was killed along with eight Hong Kong tourists in the Aug. 23, 2010 Manila hostage crisis. SPO2 Mendoza faces charges of serious illegal detention and conspiracy and was accused of trying to conspire with his brother during the 11-hour standoff, but he denied the allegations. Police serving a warrant issued by the Manila court earlier this week had sought Gregorio at his known addresses in Manila and Quezon City, but failed to find him. Gregorio surrendered to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima at the NBI in Manila early Friday. — RSJ, GMA News