TANAUAN CITY, Philippines – “On behalf of the Mendoza family, we would like to extend our apologies to the family of the eight Hong Kong nationals who were killed and the others wounded in the hostage taking.”

These were the words expressed by Efren Mendoza, uncle of hostage-taker and former police Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza, in a press briefing held at the Mendoza residence in Barangay Bañadero, Tanauan, Batangas on Tuesday.

Holding back tears, Mendoza appealed to the international community not to condemn their family. 

“Hindi pa nila alam ang lahat ng pinagdaanan ng aking pamangkin, sana naman huwag muna silang maghusga at gumawa ng kung ano-anong espekulasyon,” Mendoza said.

He also appealed to President Benigno Aquino III and the Philippine National Police leadership for an impartial investigation on the incident.

He expressed dismay at the negotiation held during the Monday stand-off, claiming that bloodshed could have been prevented if was a “calmer” police negotiator on the field.

“Nagre-release na ng mga hostages ang mga pamangkin ko at ito ang tanda na gusto niyang maayos ang situation” Mendoza said.

Mendoza added that his nephew blew his top off when the police started to arrest the hostage-taker’s brother, Senior Police Officer 2 Gregorio Mendoza. 

“They could have asked Mayor (Alfredo) Lim to intercede since (he) was the former boss of my nephew in the Manila police,” Mendoza said. “Alam kong makikinig sya doon dahil maganda naman ang naging samahan nila.”

Mendoza said the government also failed to bring his nephew’s son, police Insp. Bismark Mendoza, to the area to take part in the negotiation.

“Hindi pinagbigyan ng gobyerno na madala kaagad sa Maynila ang anak ng aking pamangkin na manggagaling pa sa Abra. Sigurado akong makikinig sa kanyang anak ang aking pamangkin,” Mendoza said. “Kung nadala sana nila kaagad ang anak ng pamangkin ko baka hindi humantong sa trahedya ang situation.”

Mendoza revealed that his nephew planned to run as chairman in their village in the upcoming barangay election this year.

“Ganon sya minamahal ng mga tao dito sa amin, maraming humihikayat sa kanya para tumakbong barangay captain ng aming lugar,” Mendoza said.