A Hostage-taker's Final Hour (part 3)

PART III of RMN Interview with hostage-taker Capt. Rolando Mendoza

MENDOZA: O, e nakikita ko, binibitbit nilang parang baboy ’yung pulis, hindi naman ’yan kasama rito… Ito, magpaparinig ako ng isang putok, baguhin nila. Baguhin, baguhin nila ’yan… Mali ’yang ginagawa nila na ’yan. (I see it, they’re carrying him off like a pig. He has no part in this ... here, I’ll let them hear a warning shot. They should stop. Stop, they should stop that ... What they’re doing there is wrong)

ROGAS: Sandali lamang po, kalma lamang po tayo, Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza… (Wait, let’s calm down)

MENDOZA: O, ayan, ginagawa nilang baboy ’yung kapatid ko, ayan o. (There, they’re treating my brother like a pig, there)

ROGAS: OK. kalma lamang po, Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza, kakausapin po natin ang PNP. Tawagan natin ang PNP para sa…. (Calm down, we’ll talk to the PNP. We’ll call the PNP to ...)

MENDOZA: Pakawalan nila ’yang kapatid ko kung hindi magbabaril ako rito ng isa. (They better release my brother or I’ll shoot one in here)

ROGAS: OK. OK, kinakausap na po namin ang pulis, Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza. Kalma lamang po tayo, ano po. (Okay, we’re talking with the police now. Let’s just calm down)

MENDOZA: O, e ’yung kapatid ko, nakikita ko, bakit nila ginaganyan ’yan, ako ang may kasalanan dito. Walang kasalanan ’yan. Walang kasalanan ’yan, ipakita ninyo na pinakawalan ninyo ang mga kapatid ko. Ipakita nila, kapag hindi, titirahin ko ’yung mga nandito sa loob… Sabihin mo sa kanila… Sabihin mo sa kanila ’yan! (I can see my brother. Why are they treating him that way when I’m at fault here, not him. He’s not at fault. Show me that you’ve release my brother. Let them show me, if they don’t, I’ll shoot one in here ... You tell them ... You tell them!)

ROGAS: Opo, tinatawagan na natin. (Yes, we’re calling them now)

MENDOZA: Ipakita nila ’yan, ipakita nila dito sa kaliwa makita ko sa kaliwa ng bus, palakarin nila ’yung mga kapatid ko diyan, pagka hindi, ito talagang ano, halo na rito, lahat-lahat. (Let them show me that, let them show me here at the left side of the bus, let my siblings walk here, if not, really, everyone here)

ROGAS: Opo. Tinatawagan na po namin ang PNP… Easy lamang po ha. Easy lamang po tayo… (Yes. We’re calling the PNP. Take it easy. Take it easy)

MENDOZA: Walang kasalanan ’yang mga kapatid ko. Hindi nila alam ang pangyayaring ito. (My siblings are not at fault. They don’t know about what’s happening)

ROGAS: Opo. Kalma lang po tayo at kami po’y nakikipag-ugnayan sa PNP. Humuhupa na rin naman po iyong mga pulis, ano po. (Yes. Calm down, we’re getting in touch with the PNP. The police are calming down, aren’t they?)

MENDOZA: Ayan o, binibitbit ’yung kapatid kong pulis, walang kasalanan ’yan, bakit nila bibitbitin ’yan. Sasabihin nila, accessory, hindi accessory ’yan, ako lang mag-isa ang gumawa nito. (There, they’re carrying off my brother, a policeman, he’s not at fault, why are they arresting him. They say he’s an accessory, he’s not an accessory, only I did this)

ROGAS: Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza, sandali lang po ha. Tayo po ay kumukontak na sa PNP para po huminahon rin po ang PNP sa pagkakataon pong ito, ano po. (Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza, wait. We’re calling up the PNP so they’d calm down too, okay?)

MENDOZA: Ayan o, nakikita ko. Nakikita ko ’yung ginagawa nila sa kapatid ko, ayan o. O, ginuyabit o. O e, pulis ’yan e. Walang kasalanan ’yan. Walang kasalanan ’yan. Pakawalan nila ’yan. Pagka hindi, ito babarilin ko itong nasa unahan, sabihin mo sa kanila. (There, I can see. I can see what they’re doing to my brother. There, they grabbed him. But he’s police too. He’s done nothing wrong. He’s not at fault. They should free him. If they don’t, I’ll shoot this one in front, tell them)

ROGAS: Sandali po, sandali… (Wait, wait...)

MENDOZA: Sabihin mo sa kanila… (Tell them...)

ROGAS: O, ’yung PNP baka po pwede nating sabihan natin ’yung PNP o. (The PNP, tell the PNP)

TULFO: Michael… Ito, ito sa likod ko. (Here, behind me)

ROGAS: Erwin…

MENDOZA: Sabihin mo sa kanila bakit nila ginaganyan ang kapatid ko, walang kasalanan ’yan, ako mag-isa ang gumawa nito. (Ask them why they’re doing that to my brother, he’s done nothing, I did this on my own)

TULFO: Sir, sino bang ground commander n’yo?  (Sir, who’s your ground commander?)

ROGAS: Ayan po, kinakausap na ni Erwin ’yung pulis.  (There, Erwin is talking with the police)

TULFO: Dahil daw ’yung kapatid niya e, hinuli niyo raw yata e. (Because he’s saying you arrested his brother)

MENDOZA: Ayan o, nakikita ko rito, nakaharap diyan sa TV, ginagawa nilang baboy ’yang kapatid kong pulis. Walang kasalanan ’yan, hindi niya alam ang pangyayari na ’to, ngayon niya lang nalaman sa TV, bakit nila gaganyanin? (There, I can see it here, in front of the tv, they’re treating my policeman brother like a pig. He’s not at fault here, he doesn’t know what’s happening. He just learned of it now from the [news] on tv)

TULFO: Nakita niya ho sa TV na hinuli ang utol niya e, si SPO2… (He saw on tv that his brother, SPO2 ... was arrested)

MENDOZA: Ayan o, ayan o, hanggang ngayon, hina-harass… (There, up to now they’re harassing him)

ROGAS: Erwin, Erwin, pakilapitan ’yung mga pulis. (Erwin, Erwin, please go to the police)

TULFO: Ito na, ito na, kinausap na natin at ito, ’yung ground commander nila umakyat na ’yung ground commander nila sa ATR van. (I am, I’m talking with them now, their ground commander just went up the ATR van)

MENDOZA: ’Pag hindi nila pinakawalan ’yan, babarilin ko ’yung nasa unahan ng bus. (If they don’t set him free, I’ll shoot the [hostage] at the front of the bus)

ROGAS: Erwin…

MENDOZA: Sabihin mo sa kanila, bibigyan ko sila ng five minutes. (Tell them I’m giving them five minutes)

TULFO: Oo. (Yes)

MENDOZA: Five minutes lang ang ibibigay ko sa kanila, makakarinig kayo ng putok kapag hindi nila pinakawalan ’yan. (I’m only giving them five minutes, they’ll hear gunfire if they don’t release him)

ROGAS: Pakibilisan lamang, Erwin, ano. Pakibilisan lamang. (Please hurry up, Erwin. Please hurry up)

MENDOZA: Five minutes.

TULFO: Ito, kinakausap na natin, ito. Sandali. (I’m talking to them now. Wait)

MENDOZA: ’Pag lumala ’yan walang kasalanan ’yan o. Ito, lalala lalo ito dahil sa ginagawa nila, ng mga pulis na ’yan. Sabihin mo sa kanila. (If that goes bad, he’s not at fault. Here, it’ll worsen here because of what they’re doing, those policemen. Tell them)

ROGAS: Erwin… Pakilapitan na ’yung pulis para ng sa ganun, matigil na ’to o. (Erwin, please go to the police for this to stop)

TULFO: Oo. OK. Ito na, ito na, paakyat tayo rito. (Yes, okay, I’m on my way up)

MENDOZA: Ayan o, may sumasapok, may sumusuntok sa likuran. Putang ina ’yan. Ito, babarilin ko na talaga itong nasa unahan. (There, somebody punched him, somebody punched him from behind. Sonofabitch)

ROGAS: Sandali po, sandali. Kalma lang po, kalma… (Wait, wait. Calm down)

MENDOZA: ’Pag hindi nila pinakawalan ’yan! (If they don’t release him!)

ROGAS: Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza…

TULFO: Bakit n’yo hinuli? (Why are you arresting him?)

MENDOZA: Ayan o, sila coronel yan. Putang ina, ayan o, sabihin mo kapag hindi pinakawalan ’yang kapatid ko, babarilin ko itong nasa unahan. (There, that’s the Colonel [and his men]. Sonofabitch, tell them if they don’t release my brother, I’ll shoot this guy in front [of the bus])

ROGAS: Sandali, sandali (Wait, wait)

MENDOZA: Sabihin mo! Sabihin mo! (Tell them! Tell them!)

ROGAS: Sandali, sandali! (Wait, wait!)

MENDOZA: Pakawalan nila ’yan! (Release him!)

TULFO: ’Yun ang sinasabi niya, ’pag hindi niyo pinakawalan ’yan. (He’s saying, if you don’t release his brother)

ROGAS: Puwede ba ’yung Channel 2 at the same time, ’yung PNP, ’yung PNP, ’yung pulis. (Is it possible for Channel 2 and at the same time, the PNP, the PNP, the police)

TULFO: OK na, OK na. Tinatawagan na nila ’yung headquarters… Na alalay na lang at nakikita ni Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza… (It’s okay, it’s okay now. They’re calling headquarters to take it easy because Captain Mendoza can see)

MENDOZA: Hindi nila pakakawalan ’yan? Putang ina, ano? Babarilin ko na ’to. (They’re not going to release him? Sonofabitch, what? I’ll shoot this one.)

ROGAS: Captain, Captain Rolando Mendoza, sandali po… (please, wait)

MENDOZA: Pakawalan ninyo ’yan, kapag hindi, babarilin ko na ’to. (Release him or I’ll shoot this one)

ROGAS: ’Wag po kayong magpapaputok, Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza… Erwin, pakibilisan lamang ’yung ground commander.  (Don’t shoot, Captain. Erwin, please hurry up, the ground commander)

TULFO: Ito, kinakausap ko na ’yung ground commander. (Here, I’m already talking with the ground commander)

MENDOZA: Ayan, ipinosas na. Kapag hindi nila pinakawalan ’yan, babarilin ko na ’to. Lalahatin ko na ’to. Iisa-isahin ko, sabihin mo. (There, they cuffed him. If they don’t release him, I’ll shoot this one. I’ll shoot everybody, one by one, tell them)

ROGAS: Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza, tinutulungan na po namin kayo. (Captain, we’re trying to help you)

MENDOZA: Wala, wala. Dinideridiretso nila. (No, no. They’re going on with it)

ROGAS: Erwin, Erwin… Pakilapitan mismo ’yung pulis na may hawak. (Erwin, please talk to the policeman apprehending [the brother])

TULFO: Sandali, sandali lang, ito, kakausapin mismo natin si ground commander. (Wait, just wait, I’ll talk to the ground commander himself)

ROGAS: ’Yung pulis mismo na may hawak. (The arresting policeman)

TULFO: A, ano na ho bang kuwan, sagot natin sa… (Ah, what is our response to...)

MENDOZA: Ayan, ayan. ’Pag umalis ’yang mobile na ’yan na kasama ang kapatid ko, babarilin ko ’yung nasa unahan. (There, if that mobile [patrol] ever leaves with my brother [in it] I’ll shoot this guy in front)

ROGAS: Sandali po. (Wait)

MENDOZA: Babarilin ko na ’to lahat-lahat. (I’ll shoot everybody)

ROGAS: Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza…

[Nagpaputok ng baril, iyakan at sigawan] (gunshot, crying and screaming)

MENDOZA: ’Yan ang sinasabi ko, kanina pa e. (That’s what I’ve been saying)

ROGAS: Kasamang Erwin, ’yun bang mga pulis, narinig ba nila ’yun? (Did the police, did they hear that?)

TULFO: Putang ina, itong mga operatiba rito e, kanina ko pa sinabi… (sonofabitch, these operatives here, I’ve been telling them...)

ROGAS: Captain, Capt. Rolando Mendoza…

[Walang sumasagot] (no response)

ROGAS: Erwin, Erwin… Lapitan ano, anong ginagawa ngayon ng mga pulis? (What are the police doing now)

TULFO : Nagskrambulan na dito. (They’ve started to scramble here)

ROGAS: Kapitan, Capt. Rolando Mendoza… Hindi na po hawak Kapitan, Capt. Rolando Mendoza ang telepono. (The Captain is no longer on the phone)

[Kinakausap ang mga reporter… Rod Vega at Silvestre Labay…] (Anchor talks with other reporters)

ROGAS: Kapitan, Capt. Rolando Mendoza…

MENDOZA: ’Wag n’yo ng palapitin dito… Paalisin na… Bakit n’yo hinuhuli wala naman kasalanan ’yan ako lang me kasalanan dito pagka hindi me binaril na ako dito dalawa ’pag hindi dadagdagan ko pa ito. (Don’t let them come near here ... Why are you arresting my brother when it’s I, not him, who’s at fault here. If you don’t [stop], I already shot two in here, if you don’t [stop] I’ll shoot some more)

ROGAS: Sandali po, sandali po, huminahon po tayo… ’Yun pong sinsabi n’yo binaril ano po ang ano nila (Wait, wait, please calm down. You’re saying you shot what?)

MENDOZA: Binaril ko ang dalawang Chinese pagka hindi nila binago ang sitwasyon pati maliit dito sa loob uubusin ko ’to. (I shot two Chinese, if they don’t change the situation, even the little one here, I’ll finish off everybody)

ROGAS: Sandali po ha, hinahon lang muna tayo Kapitan Mendoza. (Wait, please calm down)

MENDOZA: Uubusin ko ito ’pag ’di sila tumigil kakatakbo d’yan sa gilid… Uubusin ko ’to. (I’ll finish off everybody if they don’t stop running around [the bus])

ROGAS: Ah opo, kinakausap na po namin ang PNP para sa ganoon ay ’di na po matuloy ’yan… Ah OK, Kapitan Mendoza. (Yes, we’re talking to the PNP now so they don’t proceed)

MENDOZA: Ah pakawalan nila ang kapatid ko… Bakit nila inaano, ako ang me ginagawa dito… Bakit sila ang hinuhuli samantalang ako ang gumagawa dito ng kasalanan ako ang hulihin nila. (Release my brother...Why are they doing that to him ... I’m the one doing something in here ... Why are they arresting them when I’m the one committing a crime here, they should arrest me)

ROGAS: Opo… Kapitan Mendoza… (Yes ... Captain Mendoza)

[Binaba na ang phone] (Puts the phone down)

Read [PART 1] [PART 2]