MANILA, Philippines - They were just in the right place but at the wrong time, so said Radyo Mo Nationwide (RMN) spokesman Jake Maderazo of the station’s role in the hostage fiasco last August 23.

Reacting to the emotional outburst of 1 of the members of the panel investigating the hostage crisis, he said the anchors of radio station DZXL-RMN in fact tried to beg the gunman into releasing his hostages.

Dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza took hostage Hong Kong tourists more than 2 weeks ago with the goal of getting his job back. In the end however, the incident left 9 dead, including the gunman himself.

The anchors of the radio station, Michael Rogas and Erwin Tulfo, were able to interview Mendoza during the critical moments of the hostage crisis.

Maderazo and Rogas were berated by Teresita Ang-See during their testimony before the Incident Investigation and Review Committee on Tuesday.

Ang-See, who represents the Filipino-Chinese community in the panel, said not 1 of the anchors even tried to beg for the lives of the hostages.

She said negotiators should have had the chance to talk to the hostage-taker.

In an interview with DZMM’s Kabayan however, Maderazo pointed out that the whole interview actually reveals they did a humane act. He claimed snippets were only aired before the panel for practicality purposes.

“Yung buong interview, kapag nakita, malalaman na pinapakalma namin siya. Kinokonsensiya namin siya…In long interviews, lalo napapakalma yung kausap…Ang problema lang yung circumstances na nagpabago sa sitwasyon (If you heard the whole interview, we actually asked that he calm down. Long interviews actually help. However, the circumstances then changed everything),” Maderazo said.

He was referring to Mendoza’s impatience over the negotiators’ handling of the demands, as well as the subsequent arrest of his brother that was aired on live television.

It just so happened that they were interviewing Mendoza, Maderazo said. Nobody knew that things would drastically change in only a couple of minutes, he added. He said the anchors were just doing their job.

“The hostage started at around 9:00 a.m. Nakalipas na ang 9 oras, nagtatanong na ang mga tao, wala ba sila resources, duwag ba sila? Kahit ano sabihin natin, ito lang ba ay para sa convenience ng pulis (After 9 hours, the public would want to know what is happening. They would think, is the media doing its job?),” he said.

All the public was getting then was the police’s side of the story, he added.

In fact, the anchors still tried to connect Mendoza to the negotiators during those critical moments, he said.

With the circumstances however, “hindi mo na maaawat yun (You will not be able to appease him already),” Maderazo said.

“Isipin na lang, kung sakali ngang pinatay niya lahat…at walang recording…Buti nga may black box eh. Dito, nakita natin ang final moments, sino nagsasabi ng totoo (The interview served as the black box—what happened during the final moments, who was telling the truth),” he said.