Six Chinese survive Philippine hostage crisis (Fourth Lead)

MANILA - At least six Chinese hostages Monday survived the hijacking of a tourist bus in the Philippines that ended after the hostage-taker was shot dead by police.

Police officers and medical workers rushed to the bus after the hostage taker, dismissed police officer Rolando Del Rosario Mendoza, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police.

At least four hostages were moved out on stretchers, but their condition was not clear.

One Chinese woman was seen crying as she was helped out of the bus at a seaside park in Manila city.

Interior Secretary Jessie Robredo said authorities were still verifying the conditions of the 15 Chinese hostages from Hong Kong who were still on the bus when the violence erupted.

“Of the 15, about half are alive,” he said. “The others were found dead, and some were wounded. We are saddened by this event.”

Mendoza seized the bus more than 10 hours earlier and demanded that authorities review his dismissal from the force in February 2009 due to extortion and harassment.

He denied any wrongdoing and filed an appeal.

There were 25 people inside the bus when it was seized, including 20 Chinese tourists and a travel guide from Hong Kong and four Filipinos.

Six Chinese tourists, including three children, and three Filipinos were freed earlier. The Filipino bus driver escaped when Mendoza opened fire inside the bus.