MANILA, Philippines?(UPDATE) He could have gotten what he wanted but it was too late.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim said they managed to get the nod of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) to suspend the implementation of the dismissal order on hostage taker Senior Superintendent Rolando Mendoza pending resolution of his appeal.

The Office of the Ombudsman had ordered Mendoza?s dismissal from services following complaints filed against him. The Philippine National Police (PNP) already implemented the order despite his pending appeal.

Mendoza took hostage a bus full of HongKong nationals last August 23 demanding that the Ombudsman act on his appeal and that he be reinstated as a police officer.

Lim said they already had the letter around 7:45 p.m. suspending the implementation of his dismissal from services and asked a police officer to deliver it to Manila Police District (MPD) Chief RodolfoMagtibay, the ground commander of the hostage taking incident.

?Everything was done even to the extent of violating some procedures just to accommodate the request of Mendoza,? Lim said.

?NCRPO Chief Leocadio Santiago agreed to suspend implementation of the dismissal order and hold it in abeyance pending the review by the Office of the Ombudsman but the letter was no longer delivered because the gun fight ensued,? Lim added.

The committee members took note of the fact that such action was done almost seven hours from the start of the incident.

Magtibay explained that the hostage taker was cooperative as he released hostages even for the simple reason of using the bathroom.

?Is that the reason why you were complacent? That was your basis in saying he was mabait (kind),? KBP President Herman Basbano said.

Meanwhile, Lim admitted that after he ordered the handcuffing of Mendoza's brother, he was no longer aware of the events that transpired after that as he went to a restaurant and set up a command post.

?Is it true that aside from you, Magtibay also left the area?? KBP President Herman Basbano asked Lim.

?Oo kasi wala namang nangyayari. Peace time pa. Nung nangyari ang commotion hindi namin nalalaman (Nothing was happening. It was still peaceful. When the commotion ensued, we weren't aware of it),? Lim said, adding that he went to the restaurant because he has not had lunch.

The arrest of Mendoza?s brother, according to committee member IBP governor Roan Libarios was the tipping point of the hostage-taker?s attitude.

?Is it safe to say that you have misread the situation?? Basbano asked.

?Wala pang nangyayari. Sabi ko aabutin ito ng madaling araw. Intayin na lang natin mapagod yung hostage taker. Intayin na lang (Nothing was ahppening. I told myself this could last till dawn the next day. Let's just wait for the hostage taker to get tired),? Lim said.

Even though they were out of the command center near Rizal Park, Lim and Magtibay said they were still communicating via their cellular phone.

But Lim stressed that they could not monitor the events at the Quirino Grandstand because they do not have television at the restaurant.

?We requested for a television but it took a long time for them (restaurant) to act on our request and after they did, the television was no use because it was busted,? Lim said.

Meanwhile, Magtibay admitted that four of the 8 victims in the hostage taking died during the assault.

He also agreed with committee member Teresita Ang-See that they should have rehearsed on the actual make and model of the bus.

Magtibay added that they were also not aware that while they could no longer communicate with the hostage taker, various media entities were able to interview Mendoza even after 6 p.m. when he rejected the letter from the Office of the Ombudsman.