Ombudsman set to rule on case of slain hostage taker

MANILA, Philippines – Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez is set to rule on Thursday on the case of slain hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza.

Assistant Ombudsman Jose de Jesus Jr. said Gutierrez is reviewing the case herself as she had promised the dismissed police senior inspector at the height of the hostage crisis at Rizal Park in Manila last Monday.

Gutierrez assured Mendoza his case would be resolved within 10 days, he added.

Gutierrez could not have granted Mendoza’s demand to issue a decision at that time without reviewing the case from start to end, De Jesus said.

Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni denied allegations that Mendoza was a victim of injustice.

“The elements of due process were observed,” he said. “He was positively identified by the victim himself.”

Jalandoni said it was not true that Mendoza was not given a chance to defend himself during the investigation.

Mendoza had filed a counter-affidavit, supplemental motion for reconsideration, position paper, motion for reconsideration and letter-pleadings, he added.

Jalandoni said Mendoza’s motion for reconsideration was accepted, considered, and given due course, although it was filed out of time, he added.

Mendoza could have asked the Court of Appeals to stop his dismissal from the service, Jalandoni said.

The administrative case against Mendoza was dismissed by the Philippine National Police Internal Affairs Service because complainant Christian Kalaw was not appearing at the hearing, according to Emilio Gonzalez III, Deputy Ombudsman for the military and other law enforcement agencies.