Manila, Philippines (CNN) -- At least seven hostages appear to have survived the 10-hour hijacking of a bus Monday, and the hostage-taker died of a gunshot wound to the head, a CNN producer at the scene said.
Police said at least two hostages were killed on the bus, which was hijacked in the Philippines Monday.
There were 15 hostages on the bus when police stormed it. Nine hostages and the driver had been released earlier. It was not clear if the other six are alive or dead.
Police boarded the gunman-controlled bus about 40 minutes after the driver left and said the hostage-taker had killed all those remaining on board, CNN's Anna Coren reported. The police retreated immediately, possibly after firing a shot into the bus, pictures from the scene showed.
Earlier, a police assault team charged the bus, breaking the windows with an ax, Coren said.
The hostage taker had threatened "more drastic measures" if police approached him, Manila police official Leocadio Santiago told CNN.
Coren said those freed from the bus included a mother and her three children, a man with diabetes, and two photographers.
Three people were able to walk off the bus under their own power after the standoff ended, Coren said. It was unclear whether they were hostages.
Mendoza was demanding his job back, police told CNN.
He wrote his demand on a board and displayed it in the bus' windshield, the police official said.
"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.
Mendoza was wearing his uniform and carrying a rifle when he flagged down the tourist bus and asked for a ride, police spokesman Erwin Margarejo told reporters.
A tour guide for Hong Thai Travel tried to stop him from boarding the bus, the company's general manager told reporters. CNN
