Brother of slain Manila hostage taker posts bail, to be freed soon

MANILA, Philippines – The brother of a slain Manila hostage taker may be released this Friday after his lawyer posted a P100,000 bail, which was reduced by the court from P200,000.

“It’s safe to say he may be released today [Friday],” said Romulo Macalintal, counsel for Senior Police Officer 2 Gregorio Mendoza, who surrendered earlier on Friday and is under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Macalintal said the Manila regional trial court Branch 14 has agreed to reduce Mendoza’s bail to P100,000 from P200,000.

He said he was on his way to the NBI to facilitate the release order.

Mendoza is the brother of hostage taker Rolando Mendoza who held a busload of Hong Kong tourists in August 2010 to demand the dismissal of a criminal case filed against him before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Rolando Mendoza and eight Hong Kong nationals died in the botched rescue operations.

Gregorio Mendoza has been accused of allegedly conspiring with his brother in holding the captives at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.