Text messages sent to hostage-taker bared

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN has obtained a copy of the text messages sent to the mobile phone of dismissed police officer Rolando Mendoza during the August 23 hostage-taking crisis.

His family and friends, in the text messages, urged the former police senior inspector to surrender, but some also encouraged him to continue his fight.

During a technical examination of Mendoza's cellphone by police, investigators recovered several text messages he received on during hostage crisis.

Several text messages before noon of August 23 warned Mendoza to take care.

A message sent 11:57 a.m. said: “Tito ingat k wag k mxado sumilip sa labas bka masniper ka! (Tito ingat ka. 'Wag ka masyado sumilip sa labas baka ma-sniper ka!)”

Other messages expressed support for the hostage-taker.

“Gud pm rolly saludo ako syo sa ipinaglalaban mo sna makamtan mo ang mga hinaing mo may awa ang diyos mag-ingat ka (Good afternoon Rolly. Saludo ako sa iyo sa ipinaglalaban mo. Sana makamtan mo ang mga mga hinaing mo. May awa ang Diyos. Mag-ingat ka),” a text message sent at 5:42 p.m. said.

One text message, meanwhile, informed Mendoza of what the media was reporting about him, including his alleged involvement in illegal drugs. The message sender also advised Mendoza what to say to the press.

"Rolly, andiyan na yan. Sa TV news pinalalabas na involved ka sa Drugs. E correct mo yon at tell them (media) na isa lang ang nagreklamo saiyo at di lang ikaw ang denemanda marami kayo. At wag mong sasaktan ang mga hostages (Rolly, andiyan na 'yan. Sa TV news pinalalabas na involved ka sa drugs. I-correct mo 'yon at tell them (media) na isa lang ang nagreklamo sa iyo at di lang ikaw ang dinemanda marami kayo. At 'wag mong sasaktan ang mga hostages),” said the text message sent 7:10 p.m.

Calls for surrender

However, most of the text messages advised Mendoza to surrender.

One of the message senders even told Mendoza not to waste the good things he had done for his family, including having sent all his children through school.

“Pre c preng ___ m 2 sumuko k nlng pre mpguuspan yan wag m syngin ang magadng ipnkita mo s pmilya m puro tapos n mga anak m pki usa lang sumuko k n pguspan n lng problema m sge na pre pls (Pare, si pareng ___ mo ito. sumuko ka na lang pare. Mapag-uuspan 'yan. 'Wag mo sayangin ang magandang ipinakita mo sa pamilya mo. Puro tapos na mga anak mo. Paki-usap lang sumuko ka na, pag-usapan na lang [ang] problema mo. Sige na pare, please),” said the message sent 2:18 p.m..

“Pare awa ng Diyos sumuko ka na wag mo gawin iyan may awa pa ang Diyos maayos mo iyan!” said another sent 4:18 p.m.. “Napakahalaga ng buhay suko k na lang,” said another message received by Mendoza’s cellphone at 7:04 p.m.

Most of Mendoza’s friends and neighbors also asked the dismissed police official to surrender. They reminded him that his life is more important than money

“Gud eve kabayan suko k n lang wag mong isipin ang claim pera lng yan (Good evening kabayan. Suko ka na lang. 'Wag mong isipin ang claim pera lang 'yan) ang importante buhay dapat buhay ang isipin mo,” said a message received 7:03 p.m..

Mendoza’s family also pleaded with the hostage taker to surrender, saying that many people loved him.

“Daddy nad2 c (nandito si) pare ___ sa tabi ko gnagawan ni pare ___ ng paraan para maayos yan,” said a message sent 4:02 p.m..

“Tito roly mhal ka nmin at ng mga kumpare Mu nand2 lng kami sa likod sumusuporta sau…Godspeed air (Tito Rolly mahal ka namin at ng mga kumpare mo. Nandito lang kami sa likod sumusuporta sa 'yo… Godspeed air),” said another sent 6:08 p.m..

Another message sent 6:21 p.m. said: “Rolly marami pa nagmamahal syo pamilya at Kamag-anak mo pati c May.”

While another, sent 6:42 p.m., appealed to the hostage taker: “’Nong marami pong nagmamahal SAU, at mrami pong msasaktan, Nanjn po ang Dyos di k nya pabbyaan maayos din po ntin ang prob (’Nong marami pong nagmamahal sa iyo at marami pong masasaktan, Nandiyan po ang Dyos di ka niya pababyaan. Maaayos din po natin ang problema).”

Someone even offered to help Mendoza find a lawyer.

“'Nong c Shila ____ po i2, nong gus2 nyo po b n pag usapan natin. Me mga kasmahan po akong lawyers bka mak2long, Nong Cge nap o kausapin nyo ko ('Nong si Shila ____ po ito, 'nong gusto niyo po ba na pag-usapan natin. May mga kasamahan po akong lawyers baka makatulong, 'Nong sige na po kausapin niyo ko),” said the message sent 6:40 p.m.

Several members of the media were found to have sent messages to Mendoza.

“Sir Tonton to from Rey Langit ofis tawag po kami using landline,” said the message from 0920-626xxx sent 7:12 p.m..

“Pare, Michael Fajatin ito ng gma7. Dto lang ako…,” said the message sent 4:02 p.m. from 0917-537xxx.

Letter from Ombudsman

At around 6 p.m., several people sent messages to Mendoza, advising him that a letter from the Ombudsman was about to arrive

“Rolly papunta na dyan ang sulat galling sa Ombudsman ma2tutuwa ka daw,” said one sent 5:59 p.m. while another message sent minutes after said “Rolly antayin mo ang sulat.”

At 6:09 p.m. Mendoza received a text message telling him that Manila Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno had arrived with the Ombudsman’s letter. “Rolly dadalhin na dyan ang sulat dumating na c (si) Vice mayor Moreno,” said the message.

From 7:20 p.m. onward, more messages arrived, asking Mendoza to surrender.

“Nong cge n po kausapin nyo n ko,” said one message sent 7:22 p.m.. “Nong pls sumuko k n po,” said another sent 8:10 p.m..

Authorities are continuing to review the messages and calls that Mendoza received during the crisis.

Investigators are also talking to the people who either sent the messages or called him up

source;abs cbn