MANILA, Philippines – Snipers were given the green light to take out hostage-taker Rodolfo Mendoza shortly before negotiations for the release of his victims collapsed on August 23, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim revealed Friday.

He told a multi-sectoral committee investigating the hostage-taking crisis that Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay issued an order around 5:30 p.m. for police sharpshooters deployed around the hijacked bus to “look for a clean shot” at Mendoza if the talks collapsed.

Magtibay, then Manila Police District chief, was the overall ground commander of government forces during the crisis.

Snipers shot and killed the hostage-taker several minutes later after Magtibay issued another order to launch a full-scale assault on the bus.

Lim said Magtibay issued the assault order as Mendoza was already shooting at hostages.

Philippine National Police Director-General Jesus Verzosa earlier told the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) hearing that he did not issue a direct command for snipers to shoot Mendoza because negotiations were still going well.

Lim told the committee chaired by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that government officials, including members of the local crisis management committee, are not allowed to directly interfere in negotiations with hostage-takers.

“Hindi po kami puwedeng makialam. The ground commander is responsible,” he stressed. “The ground commander can reject suggestions from the local crisis committee.”

“The negotiation, once it starts, not even the ground commander can talk directly to hostage-taker,” Lim said. “It’s a fundamental principle. Kapag pinayagan na iba ang makausap, binabalewala ng hostage-taker ang negotiator, dadagdagan ang demands. (If we allow others to talk to him, he will disregard the negotiator and make more demands.) He will up the ante.”

He also explained the reason behind his order to have hostage-taker’s brother, Senior Police Officer 2 (SPO2) Gregorio Mendoza, handcuffed and brought to the MPD headquarters to be investigated.

He said that a negotiator, police Superintendent Orlando Yebra, believed that that SPO2 Mendoza was in cahoots with his brother.

Yebra wanted the hostage-taker’s brother charged as an accessory to the crime.

“Naisipan namin na ilabas na ito,” SPO2 Mendoza allegedly told the Manila mayor when asked to explain what prompted his brother to take people hostage.

According to Lim, the hostage-taker’s brother initially agreed to help resolve the situation, but his behaviour became erratic after helping bring to the bus a letter from the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Basura ito (This is garbage),” Mendoza allegedly told his brother. “Balewala naman iyang sulat na iyan, eh ang gusto namin immediate reinstatement. (That letter is worthless. We are waiting for a full reinstatement.)”