MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- Nine of 25 hostages aboard a tourist bus in Manila were released Monday by a former police officer who hijacked the vehicle, officials said.
Police said no hostages had been hurt.
National Capital Region Police Office Director Leocadio Santiago said police negotiated with the ex-officer, Rolando del Rosario Mendoza, who demanded he be reinstated after being dismissed on an extortion complaint ABS-CBN News reported.
"As of now, we are explaining that there are avenues that he can avail of so that his grievances can be acted on. He agreed to that and he is waiting for some results on our actions," Santiago said. "Right now, we are just showing that, as a former police officer, there is a process that we should follow and that everything that we can do we are doing now to resolve the situation without bloodshed".
Mendoza boarded the Hong Thai Travel bus with 22 Chinese from Hong Kong and three Filipinos about 9 a.m. Police said Mendoza had a firearm, possibly an M-16 rifle. UPI
