According to Manila District Police spokesman Rodolfo Magtibay speaking for CNN, the former inspector wrote his demand on a piece of paper and displayed it on the bus' windshield. Although no one was confirmed hurt yet, the paper on the windshield reads “Big deal will start after 3 p.m. today."
Since the incident started on early Monday, several hostages have been released, the number of people still trapped in the bus now being 16, all Chinese. The Manila police says the former inspector is cooperating.
Despite his desperate and foolish action, it's hard to believe the police will reinstate the inspector. According to xinhuanet.com, Mendoza had been sacked after being found to have extorting Christian Kalaw, a chef of Mandarin Hotel and forcing him to swallow shabu, a Japanese version of the hot pot.
Of course, the official reason behind his dismissal was “conduct unbecoming a police officer.” To his defense, the former inspector has been awarded in 1986 on of Jaycees International’s Ten Outstanding Policemen of the Philippines (TOPP) prize.
"We are optimistic that he will eventually realize that what he is doing is against the law and he will submit to the authorities," Magtibay told CNN.
"As an individual, his responses so far have been very reasonable and very psychologically stable,” added Metro Manila Police director Leocadio Santiago. "The use of force is a last resort."
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