Ex-Manila police chief also says Lim ordered hostage-taker's brother arrested

MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) - The brother of slain hostage-taker former senior police inspector Rolando Mendoza blames Mayor Alfredo Lim for ordering his arrest.

SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza told Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG) “hindi ako nagsisinungaling…ayoko sabihin, pero yun ang totoo.”

It was his consequent arrest at the height of the hostage-taking crisis on Monday that supposedly triggered the older Mendoza to open fire and kill some of his hostages.

The police have received flak for their actions in Gregorio’s arrest, caught on live television and allegedly agitated Mendoza who was then monitoring the situation on television.

'Yes, it was Lim'

Over at the Senate of the Philippines, which is currently doing an inquiry on the hostage incident, on-leave Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay admitted it was the Manila mayor who ordered the arrest.

Magtibay, who was the ground commander during that time, was still beating around the bush when prodded by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr.

He said Lim’s orders was anchored on a report by Superintendent Orlando Yebra who believed that he [Gregorio] was part of the conspiracy.

Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, Jr., on the other hand, tried to source out of him if it was Lim who ordered Mendoza dismissed from service.

Magtibay, however, said, “I don’t have any information.”

Gregorio, who is out on bail after being slapped with conspiracy to commit serious illegal detention, said he should not be blamed for the end-result.

“Palagay ko, hindi ako, baka po sila…Baka ang pamunuan ng mga nag-negotiate, baka sila ang may kasalanan,” he said.

He remembered that when Mendoza rejected the letter from the Ombudsman, his brother was still discussing matters with 1 of the negotiators.

One of his demands then was for the Ombudsman to review an extortion case that caused his dismissal from service.

Mendoza, thereafter, asked another negotiator, Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador, if the police had given Gregorio back his gun. Salvador answered in the affirmative.

But when asked for confirmation, Gregorio—who was about 2 to 3 meters away—said the gun was still not in his possession.

Yebra then supposedly told him: “Bakit sinabi mo yun e ibabalik naman sa iyo?...Hindi ka pala makakatulong. Icha-charge na lang kita ng conspiracy.”

It was then that his brother fired the first shot, Gregorio said.

Broadcaster at the other end of the line?

Gregorio, however, noted that Mendoza could be talking to a “high official” from one of the broadcasting networks when he rejected the letter from the Ombudsman.

“Tingin ko taga-network, baka broadcaster kasi sinasabi niyang basura lang yung papel e. Nakalagay lang kasi subject for review,” he said.

The telephone call is said to be a crucial information for investigators.

Asked if he was sure it was not a relative, Gregorio said: “Palagay ko hindi. Binabasa niya ang sulat dun sa kausap niya nung oras na iyon. Pagkatapos, binigay niya uli kay Yebra (letter).”

The arrest

Gregorio was, thereafter, whisked to the Luneta Police Community Precinct, where he waited for a couple of minutes while the negotiators were discussing matters.

After 10 minutes, an official ordered to get handcuffs that will be used to restrain him.

He heard an official say that he be detoured around the back of the precinct.

“May 2 na humawak sa balikat ko. Nung malapit na kami sa kalsada, naisip ko, baka kung ano na ang gawin sa akin. Nag-isip ako ng paraan,” he said.

That was when Gregorio ran towards members of the media covering the incident, he said.

He tearfully recounted he went there just to appease his brother, at the request of the latter’s children.

He said his brother was a “good man” who wouldn’t have done those things if not for the actions of the police.

“Sinaktan nila ako…Kung malinis ang intensyon nila, hindi dapat ako dinaan sa likuran,” he said.

Gregorio asked for forgiveness from the families of the victims of the hostage crisis.

“Ako po ay lubos na humihingi ng kapatawaran sa lahat ng nagawan ng mali ng kapatid ko. Masakit din sa kalooban ko ang pagkamatay niya…Sana maintindihan din po ng iba ang kanyang ipinaglalaban,” he said.