Wanted cop surrenders to De Lima, freed on bail

THE brother of slain hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza was freed shortly after surrendering to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima after posting a P100,000-bail.

SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, who had a warrant arrest for charges of illegal possession of firearms, conspiracy, and serious illegal detention, earlier said he no longer trusted his Manila police colleagues which was why he surrendered to De Lima.

The Justice chief turned over Mendoza to the National Bureau of Investigation pending his bail posting.

“I’m ready to face my charges,” Mendoza said. “I surrendered [to De Lima] because I fear for my life.”

Mendoza’s lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, assailed the validity of the charges. “He does not know that his brother took hostage that bus. He only knew of the incident after his superiors informed him and asked for his help in the negotiation,” he said.

Macalintal also revealed that Mendoza will testify before the Hong Kong court which is conducting an investigation into the Aug. 23, 2010 hostage-taking staged by his elder brother, which resulted in the death of eight Hong Kong tourists.

Meanwhile, Mendoza said President Benigno C. Aquino III did right when he dismissed Deputy Ombudsman for Military and Law Enforcement Offices Emilio Gonzalez III for gross at neglect of duty and misconduct in handling his brother’s case.

Because his brother believed he was unjustly fired from his job and was not afforded due process, Mendoza said he became “desperate” and turned his rage on the Hong Kong tourists.