At about 7.30am on August 23, dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza was eating breakfast at a restaurant in Chinatown with close friend Melecia Gonzales. Not far away, his eventual hostages and victims were gathering at their hotel lobby for breakfast.
After breakfast, the pair drove off at around 8am to Intramuros, past the Manila Cathedral, before parking at Fort Santiago some 10 to 15 minutes later.
Shortly before 9am, a Hong Thai tour bus arrived at Fort Santiago. On board were 21 Hong Kong tourists, tour guide Diana Chan, driver Alberto Lubang, photographer and luggage handler Danilo Nebril, and Nebril's godson, Egor Cruz.
Chan, the tour guide, was addressing her tour group when Mendoza told her that he was hitching a ride to Rizal Park. He ordered the bus doors closed, Lubang to drive to the park and the passengers to close the curtains and move to the back of the bus. Mendoza was calm at this point and was not angry or shouting.
As the tour bus neared the archway of Intramuros, towards Anda Circle, Mendoza said: 'Sorry, you are now my hostages.'
Chan sent a text message to Lourdes Amansec, from the tour company who hired her. As Lubang drove to Rizal Park, Mendoza ordered him to turn towards the Quirino Grandstand. The tour bus arrived at the park near the grandstand just before 10am. Mendoza handcuffed Lubang to the steering wheel.