Arrest of unruly brother turned rogue policeman into butcher

The driver who escaped the bus on which a crazed Filipino ex-cop carried out the slaughter of eight Hong Kong residents gave his account of the final moments of the tragedy Tuesday.

Alberto Lubang, 33, testifying at the official inquiry into the tragedy, described how former policeman Rolando Mendoza's mood had darkened as the ordeal progressed. The ex-cop became agitated that his demand for reinstatement as a senior police officer was not accepted. Then Mendoza's agitation turned to rage, when he saw his brother arrested on a live television broadcast seen inside the bus.

Then Lubang, who had been handcuffed to the wheel of the bus described what happened next.

"I heard the first shot and then I saw a hostage cuffed to the stairwell fall down," Lubang said.

"Seconds later (Mendoza) had reached the back and (was) shooting again at the passengers there."

"He was on the aisle by the middle. I saw him by the rear-view mirror. He was shooting left and right," he said.

"I didn't hear anyone who cried or shouted during that time. I didn't see any of the hostages try to overpower or subdue him."

Lubang said he managed to pick his handcuffs using a nail file before he leapt from the driver's side window after police initiated a rescue effort.

Mendoza had not been hostile prior to the breakdown of negotiations. He had earlier released ten hostages.

Earlier, representatives from the police's Special Weapon and Tactics squad testified behind closed doors. Probe chairperson and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the testimony was taken in camera because of ongoing operations.

Eight hostages were killed and seven others injured during the police's hour-long attempt to breech the bus. A police sniper eventually shot Mendoza dead.

De Lima's panel also inspected the bullet-ridden bus while excerpts from a live radio interview with Mendoza minutes before he started firing on the hostages was played.

Radio Mindanao anchor Michael Rogas, who was speaking with Mendoza for roughly an hour on a cell phone, denied he interfered with negotiations.

A presidential spokesman said local media outlets have agreed not to interfere in police operations or have live broadcasts of police and troop movements in future, after the media was lambasted for its intrusion and intense coverage of the standoff and of Mendoza's brother's arrest.

China Daily

(HK Edition 09/08/2010 page1)