Whatever pushed dismissed Police Senior Insp. Rolando Mendoza to suddenly take on full battle gear and compromise 25 hostages inside a tourist bus?

It was probably frustration and desperation, as Mendoza's main request was to be reinstated as a policeman, insisting his name was "clean" especially with regards to the "hulidap" case.

Chief Supertintendent Rodolfo Magtibay identified Mendoza as part of the District Mobile Police Unit (DMPU). However, he was moved to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in 2008 after a robbery-extortion case in Vito Cruz, Ermita, Manila.

A backgrounder on Mendoza showed that he was once awarded a medal for being one of the "10 Most Outstanding Police" and records showed that he was often awarded for his "honesty" even doing simple good deeds such as picking money on the street and returning it to its owner.

Mendoza's family is also involved in the force, with his sibling and son being members of the PNP.

In a radio interview, Mendoza's distressed father said, "Rolando, bahala ka na sa kung ano ang gusto mo, ikaw na ang magdesisyon, ayoko na mag-comment (Rolando, it's up to you what you want to do. It's your decision, I don't want to comment anymore.)"

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