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An ex-policeman armed with a high-powered assault rifle (R) waves from a tourist bus carrying more than 20 Hong Kong tourists including children as one of hostages (L) looks out from a window in Manila on August 23, 2010. Six hostages, three of them children, were released by the gunman about three hours after the standoff began, with the drama being played out live on national television. Image Credit: AFP

Manila:  Police officer Gregorio Mendoza, the brother of hostage-taker former policeman Rolando Mendoza, has been arrested on Monday.

Rolando Mendoza had held hostage a bus carrying tourists in Manila. He freed nine of the 25 tourists on board, but later said he had shot two captives.

His brother tried to elude arrest with his children and wife, but were caught by police.

"They (policemen) want to take me and arrest me. They said I will be charged as part of the hostage taking," Gregorio Mendoza said. He called on President Benigno Aquino III for help.

He was trying to enter the tourist bus to negotiate, but was carrying a gun, police said.

The Filipino driver of the bus managed to escape after shooting ensued hours later, when police tried to storm the bus.

Reporters said that the Filipino driver had "bad news" regarding the condition of the tourists who have been held hostage since Monday morning.