Hostage identity crisis: Mike who?

MANILA, Philippines - The driver of the ill-fated bus that was hijacked by police senior inspector Rolando Mendoza was not sure whether the radio anchor that the hostage-taker was talking to at the height of the hostage-taking incident was Mike Enriquez or Mike Rogas.

Alberto Lubang revealed during the hearing at the incident investigation and review committee (IIRC) yesterday that Mendoza told him to talk to someone over the phone at the time when the negotiators delivered the letter from Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez assuring the hostage taker she would personally review his case.

Lubang told Justice Secretary Leila de Lima that Mendoza told him to talk to someone he identified as Enriquez on the cell phone.

The driver recalled saying hello and the person on the other end of the line asked if they were all right.

De Lima asked the driver if he was sure it was Mike Enriquez, the popular news anchor of GMA-7 known for his distinct delivery.

“Don’t you know Mike Enriquez? Don’t you listen to him on the radio or watch him in ‘24 Oras’?” the Justice chief asked the driver.

Lubang said he was familiar with the voice of Enriquez, but added it was Mendoza who told him that it was Enriquez on the phone.

“I see him on TV. But the one I spoke to had a very high-pitched voice. I thought it was a different person,” he said.

Another IIRC member, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas president Herman Basbano, then asked him if the caller said, “Excuse me po,” Enriquez’s famous line. Lubang said the caller didn’t, which drew laughter from the panel and the crowd witnessing the hearing.

Enriquez has denied speaking with Lubang over the phone that day.

“According to Mike Enriquez, he neither talked nor attempted to speak to anyone in the bus,” said GMA News and Public Affairs in an official statement released immediately after Lubang’s testimony.

It was later ascertained that the person on the phone was Michael Rogas, anchor of dzXL of Radio Mindanao Network, who talked to Mendoza and Lubang at that time, based on audio recording of the interview submitted to the panel by the media outfit.