At least 22 foreign nationals and three Filipinos were taken hostage by a dismissed member of the Manila Police District (MPD) inside a bus parked near the Quirino Grandstand in Ermita, Manila Monday.

Police Chief Insp. Erwin Margarejo, spokesman of the MPD, identified the disgruntled former police officer who took over the Hong Thai travel and tourist bus as Police Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza.

As of 12:15 p.m. Monday, at least six hostages were already released but authorities declined to divulge the suspect's demands.

The MPD Spokesman  identified five of the six Hongkong national as Tsan Yee Lai, 40, Fuchak Yin, 10, Wong Chin Nat, 12, Fu Chang Yin, 4, and Diana Chan.

The five released hostages were taken to the nearest precinct to get their statements before taking them to the hospital for stress de-briefing.

Initial investigation disclosed that the former police officer took over the tourist bus at around 10:00 a.m. Monday.

The tourist bus, filled with Hongkong nationals, was about to leave Fort Santiago when Mendoza, who was clad in full police uniform and armed with an M-16 rifle, asked the driver if he could hitch a ride.

The driver, whom authorities have yet to identify, let Mendoza board the vehicle since he thought that the man was an on duty police officer.

As of 1:27 p.m., there had been 7 hostages released from the hijacked bus.

Manila hostage-taking updates

See also:

• Palace meets with PNP on hostage drama
• Chinese Embassy to RP: ensure safety of hostage survivors
• Gunman killed; gov't gains control of bus
• Gov't debriefing hostages
• Manila hostage-taking over
• Philippine hostage crisis ends with several hostages alive
• Hostages at Rizal Park
• Hostage-taker a decorated cop with 17 medals
• Mendoza an 'honest' policeman
• Hostage-taker dismissed due to alleged extortion
• Hostage-taker just wants to be reinstated
• 8 passengers released from tourist bus hijacked in Manila
• 7 released in bus hostage taking
• Ex-policeman in Philippines holds tourists hostage