Manila gunman's brother apologises to the victims

Gregorio Mendoza, the brother of the gunman in the Manila bloodbath in which eight Hong Kong tourists were killed in August, apologised yesterday through his attorney.

'We are very thankful our client was able to prove he has nothing to do with the [hostage-taking] incident,' said Romulo Macalintal, Mendoza's lawyer. 'He expressed his deepest condolences and sympathies to the victims.'

Mendoza became the first Filipino to participate in Hong Kong's inquest into the tour bus bloodbath. He testified via video link from a conference room in Manila, and made his apology outside the proceedings.

Mendoza, younger brother of gunman Rolando Mendoza, testified that during the August 23 crisis he had told Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim that a letter meant to answer Rolando Mendoza's demands might not satisfy the hostage-taker. But Lim told him it was 'OK'.

Rolando Mendoza, had been fired from the police force and said he hijacked the bus to force authorities to give him back his job. The letter said a Filipino ombudsman would review Mendoza's motion for reconsideration of his dismissal, the court heard.

Gregorio Mendoza said his brother told him during the standoff that if reinstated, he would handcuff himself and walk off the Hong Thai Travel tour bus where he had been holding hostages at gunpoint for hours.