MANILA, Philippines - The dismissed police officer who took 25 hostages at Rizal Park on Monday in an attempt to return to the police force has gotten himself in deeper trouble, a Philippine National Police (PNP) official said.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero A. Cruz, Jr. said former Manila police officer Rolando Mendoza used the wrong way to try to clear his name from extortion, robbery, grave threat, and physical injuries.

"Definitely that's the wrong way. That's the illegal way. Definitely, he's in deeper trouble because of this hostage-taking," Cruz said.

Cruz said the PNP has not been able verify whether Cruz has already been dismissed from the service.

If he has, Cruz said Mendoza is no longer authorized to wear a police uniform nor carry firearms. Mendoza is armed with an M-16 rifle inside the tourist bus in front of the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Cruz said Mendoza may have to face other raps such as usurpation of authority, illegal possession of firearms other than hostage-taking.

Police records show Mendoza was suspended in 2008 and dismissed from the service in February 2009. His retirement benefits were forfeited and disqualified from government service.

Cruz said Mendoza should have used the proper channels to clear his name instead of taking tourists as hostages.

Cruz said the PNP was optimistic the hostage crisis would be resolved within the day. -- report from Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News