MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - The driver of a tourist bus hijacked by a dismissed police officer escaped from the vehicle and claimed that all the hostages on the bus are all dead.

"Patay na lahat (Everyone is dead)," the driver told media before being escorted by police. ABS-CBN could not independently verify his claim

There were at least 15 hostages on board the tourist bus, which was hijacked by hostage-taker Rolando del Rosario Mendoza on Monday.

The driver was earlier reported handcuffed to the wheel before jumping out of the driver's window.

Before his escape, police heard at least 5 to 6 gunshots near the bus. Snipers then shot out the front tires of the bus to stop the bus from moving.

Mendoza's brother, Senior Police Officer 2 Gregorio Mendoza of the Manila Police District Traffic Investigation Unit, was also forcibly handcuffed and taken in by authorities allegedly being an accessory to the crime.

Mendoza tried to resist his apparent arrest after negotiations with his brother, hostage-taker Rolando del Rosario Mendoza, did not go as planned.

"They want to make me an accessory. They said that if something happened, they would get me for it. Gusto nila akong idaan sa likod. Tumakbo lang ako," he told ABS-CBN's TV Patrol minutes before police placed him and other relatives inside a waiting police car.

Mendoza earlier accompanied the 2 hostage negotiators, Superintendent Orlando Yebra Jr. and Chief Inspector Romeo Salvador, in talking to his brother.  He earlier said that he had no knowledge of the hostage-taking incident and was only informed of the situation via text.

Mendoza's brother is holding hostage 15 people left on board a tourist bus near the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park in Manila. The armed hostage-taker earlier released 9 hostages but warned that there will be a "scenario" if authorities do not give in to his demands.

The hostage-taker was removed from the police force after 31 years of service due to his involvement in an extortion incident in Manila. He was dismissed from the service following a recommendation from the Office of the Ombudsman.

Mendoza reportedly hijacked the tourist bus to force authorities to fast-track a review of his administrative case. He also wants to be reinstated to the service and all benefits and privileges restored, police said.

His brother said Mendoza is protesting the Ombudsman's decision since the internal affairs service of the Philippine National Police had already ruled that he is innocent of the crime.