Driver: Hostage-taker shot victims at close range (2:55 p.m.)

MANILA -- The driver of the ill-fated Hong Thai Travel bus on Tuesday said dismissed Police Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza fired at the hostages at close range after negotiations bogged down last August 23.

Alberto Lubang told the Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) that Mendoza went into a shooting spree after his requests were not granted by authorities and seeing his brother SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza being arrested by police.

“He was on the aisle, by the middle. He is firing at the hostages one-by-one, at close range,” he said, while demonstrating to the committee how Mendoza carried out the killings.

Legal community representative Roan Libarios of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) opined that Mendoza shot each of the hostages just six inches away from him but Lubang failed to confirm the assumption.

The driver said he was able to witness the gruesome murders using the rear view mirror, adding he only heard a series of gunshots.

“I haven’t heard anyone who cried or shouted during that time. I haven’t seen any of the hostages tried to overpower or subdue him (Mendoza),” he said.

Fearing for his life, Lubang said he was able to escape when he used a nail file to break the cuffs used by Mendoza on him. The cuffs were attached to the steering wheel.

“I was able to do it in two minutes,” he said.

Lubang added he jumped from the driver’s window and ran towards the direction of T.M. Kalaw Street where he was caught on television shouting all hostages were already dead.

Five Chinese nationals and three Canadian citizens who came to the Philippines from Hong Kong died. Mendoza was killed by sniper bullets.

Tuesday’s hearing started more than an hour behind the 9 a.m. original schedule after representatives of the Manila Police District’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team chose to testify behind closed doors.

“They testified in an executive session so as not to hamper future operations,” said IIRC chairperson and Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.

Meantime, the panel will subject four journalists to questioning before proceeding to the Quirino Grandstand at 4 p.m. to conduct an ocular inspection of the crime scene.

The journalists include TV5's Erwin Tulfo, Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) anchor Michael Rogas and spokesman Jake Maderazo, and GMA Network's Susan Enriquez.

Former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. will stand as counsel for RMN.

As of this posting Tuesday, all but Tulfo were present to recount their participation in the 11-hour standoff, which drew flak from the international community and sparked calls from opposition lawmakers for Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to resign, whose department has full supervision over the country’s policemen. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)