MANILA, Philippines -- A reporter helped Marine Captain Nicanor Faeldon during the siege of a hotel in Makati City last Nov. 29, 2007, Philippine National Police Chief Avelino Razon has insisted.

Razon was reacting to an alleged statement by Faeldon on television late Tuesday that he simply walked away from the siege and denied police claims that he was helped by a member of media.

"That is only his statement. We are pursuing the investigation," Razon told INQUIRER.net in a phone interview Wednesday.

"We're maintaining na may nakipag-usap sa kaniya at may tumulong sa kaniya para tumakas [We’re maintaining that someone had talked to him and helped him escape]," said Razon.

Razon said they had enough clips and images from a closed-circuit television installed in the hotel to show that Faeldon had escaped with the help of a reporter.

Faeldon, who carries a P1-million bounty, also said he had been in and out of Manila since the siege.

"We're still out to catch him," said Razon.

Lat November 29, several rebel soldiers, led by former Navy Lieutenant-turned-Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, took over the Manila Peninsula in Makati to dramatize their demand for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo amid allegations of corruption.

The seven-hour siege ended when government forces threw teargas and rammed an armored personnel carrier into the hotel lobby.

Trillanes and his companions have since been charged and detained at a highly secured detention facility at the Camp Crame national police headquarters while their rebellion case was being heard. Rebellion is non-bailable.