'Mendoza saw live coverage of hostage taking on TV' (12:02 p.m.)

MANILA -- The driver of the bus hijacked by a dismissed policeman last August 23 confirmed Tuesday the hostage-taker was able to see the news about the incident live on television.

Alberto Lubang, driver of the Hong Thai Travel bus carrying tourists from Hong Kong, said dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza told him to open the television around 3 p.m. while they were at the Quirino Grandstand.

The television, however, was turned off minutes later, but Mendoza opened it again around 5 p.m. and saw the live coverage on the hostage taking.

Mendoza even saw the arrest of his brother, Gregorio Mendoza, said Lubang.

Lubang, however, said Mendoza started to get angry after he read the letter sent by the Ombudsman. The letter, which contained the answer to Mendoza's request for reinstatement, was delivered by police negotiators to the hostage-taker.

Lubang said Mendoza also got angry after his brother told him that his gun, which was earlier confiscated by policemen, was not yet returned to him.

"Mga sinungaling talaga yan. Sinabi binalik na," Lubang quoted Mendoza as saying.

Mendoza fired a warning shot after that, but started shooting one of the hostages around 6 p.m. after he saw on television the arrest of his brother, Lubang said.

The driver faces today the investigation committee lead by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. (Sunnex)