Police surround, then pull back from hostage bus in Philippine capital after firing shots

Filipino police pull back from hostage bus

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine police have pulled back from a bus where 15 Chinese tourists are held hostage after commandos attempted to storm it in a bid to end a daylong standoff led by a dismissed policeman.

There was no immediate confirmation of any casualties in the standoff in downtown Manila late Monday.

However, police officer Roderick Mariano cited the Filipino driver who escaped moments before police surrounded the bus as saying the hostage-taker, armed with an M16 rifle, had opened fire at the tourists.

Police shot out the bus’ tires then used hammers to smash side windows, door and windscreen. They attempted to enter but withdrew as a volley of gunshots rang out from the vehicle. Ambulances also withdrew.

There was no movement of people seen inside the bus.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine police in helmets and flak jackets crouched beside a bus with 15 Chinese tourists held hostages inside Monday after firing shots at the tires in a bid to end a daylong standoff led by a dismissed policeman.

There was no immediate word on casualties. But the Filipino driver who escaped moments before police surrounded the bus in downtown Manila said the hostage-taker, armed with an M16 rifle, had opened fire at the tourists, police officer Roderick Mariano said.

Police used hammers to smash side windows, door and windscreen, but still did not enter the vehicle and there was no movement seen inside.

The gunman earlier released nine hostages — leaving 15 inside — and demanded his job back to free the rest.

Hours after seizing the bus, he released two women, three children, a diabetic man and three Filipinos — including a tour guide and a photographer, police said.

The hostage-taker, identified as former Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza, 55, was demanding he be given back his job on the police force a year after he was fired, Manila police chief Rodolfo Magtibay said.

According to newspaper reports from 2008, he was among five officers charged with robbery, extortion and grave threats after a Manila hotel chef filed a complaint alleging the policemen falsely accused him of using drugs to extort money.

A Chinese diplomat who was monitoring Monday’s negotiations said the hostages were “calm and peaceful” and appealed to Philippine authorities not to jeopardize their safety as the daylong talks with the gunman continued into the evening.

Bai Tian, deputy mission chief at the Chinese Embassy, told reporters they wanted every step taken “to secure the safety and security of our Chinese nationals.”

Hong Thai Travel Services Ltd. General Manager Susanna Lau told Hong Kong’s Cable TV the tour group had left the Chinese territory of Hong Kong on Aug. 20 for a visit to Manila and was scheduled to fly back to Hong Kong on Monday. She said a Hong Kong tour guide and 20 tourists from the territory — three children and 17 adults — were on the bus.

Mendoza hitched a ride on the bus from the historic walled city of Intramuros and then “declared he is taking the passengers hostage” when it reached Jose Rizal Park alongside Manila Bay, Magtibay said.

The area also includes the seaside U.S. Embassy and a number of hotels.

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Associated Press writers Teresa Cerojano and Min Lee in Hong Kong contributed to this report.