Manila , Philippines ( CNN ) -- Anger mounted Tuesday as police in the Philippines acknowledged mistakes in a hostage rescue effort that ended with the deaths of eight people on a tourist bus . Police shot and killed the gunman , former police officer Rolando Mendoza , who was apparently upset at having lost his job . He held hostage a busload of tourists from Hong Kong on Monday and according to witnesses , he was willing to cooperate before he was shot dead . In Hong Kong , flags flew at half-staff and radio talk shows were abuzz with criticism of authorities in the Philippines . The word `` incompetent '' was repeatedly heard . The deadly standoff unfolded live on television , which the gunman was able to watch on a monitor on the bus . `` We do not want to pass sweeping judgment or make early conclusions except to say that our intention to peacefully end this hostage drama was spoiled when the hostage-taker suddenly exhibited violent behavior and began shooting the hostages , '' Philippine National Police Chief Director General Jesus A. Verzosa said in a statement . National police said officials have already noted `` some observations and defects during their close monitoring of the unfolding events . '' The statement did not provide details , but listed `` poor handling of the hostage negotiation , '' `` inadequate capability , skills , equipment and planning of the assault team , '' `` improper crowd control , '' `` inadequate training and competence of assault team leader , '' and `` non-compliance to media relations procedures in hostage situations . '' Survivors were scheduled to leave the Philippines on Tuesday as officials and family members called on authorities to investigate . `` The investigation has got to find out , what was the turning point ? What happened ? '' Philippine National Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon told CNN on Tuesday . It was a dark moment for President Benigno S. Aquino III , who was elected by a landslide last spring with a promise to restore the nation 's reputation . He declared a national day of mourning Wednesday . Gordon told CNN that interviews with survivors have revealed that the situation inside the bus changed dramatically toward the end of the 10-hour standoff . `` Apparently the man went berserk . He was telling everybody he was not going to harm [ them ] . ... He said that nobody 's going to get harmed . He said that he was probably going to die , but not the hostages , '' he said . A woman who was on the bus told reporters her husband was killed when he tried to stop the gunman . `` My husband was very brave . He rushed out from the back of the bus to try to stop the killer , '' said the woman , who identified herself as Alicia Leung . She told reporters that she pretended to be dead in order to survive . `` Why did authorities not rescue us ? There were so many of us on the bus . Why did no one come to rescue us ? It is so cruel , '' she said . In Manila , Aquino said he had ordered an investigation and would wait until it is completed before deciding whether anyone should lose his or her job . In Hong Kong , officials and residents questioned how Filipino authorities had handled the hostage situation . `` This is a serious blow to Hong Kong people . We all feel very devastated , '' Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang told reporters Tuesday , saying that the government would soon announce community mourning events . Four men and four women were killed in the standoff , authorities in Hong Kong said . One passenger was critically wounded and six others were hospitalized with less serious injuries after the 10-hour standoff erupted into gunfire , Tsang said . The Hong Kong-based tour guide was among those who died , Hong Thai Travel said in a statement . Some of the victims were insured and would be compensated , the travel agency said . The gunman released nine of the hostages , including a mother and her three children , a man with diabetes , and two photographers . The bus driver also escaped . The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Tuesday that two of the released hostages were British nationals . Manila police official Leocadio Santiago told CNN that Mendoza 's family members spoke with him early in the standoff and that he appeared `` very reasonable and very psychologically stable . '' Mendoza was a decorated police officer , winning several accolades . But his career spiraled downward when he was dismissed a year ago for extortion , Manila Vice Mayor Ikso Moreno said , and he wanted his motion for reconsideration to be heard . `` He felt that it was being neglected , '' Moreno said . `` So he went on hostaging a bus full of foreign individuals . So when we talked to him this afternoon , that 's what he wanted . '' Moreno said that Mendoza 's brother was arrested because he was `` guilty of conspiring with his brother '' and allegedly helped instigate the shooting . Gordon said the brother 's arrest may have pushed the gunman over the edge . `` When he saw his brother getting accosted by the policemen , he went berserk and he started firing , '' he said . CNN 's Sarita Harilela and journalists Constance Cheng , Maria Ressa and Arlene Samson-Espiritu contributed to this report .
Gunman was able to watch live coverage of the standoff . Police officials say they observed inadequate skills and improper crowd control . National police chief says authorities tried to end standoff peacefully . Philippine Red Cross chairman says gunman initially said he would not harm hostages .