Wife held hostage by husband

CEBU, Philippines - A man who was to be served with an arrest warrant for murder, frustrated murder and attempted murder held his wife hostage inside their house around midday yesterday in Barangay Lapay, Argao.

Police were armed with the warrant signed by Judge Maximo Peras, Regional Trial Court 26 in Argao and was about to serve the same when Michael Villamora, 31, took his hand grenade and a .45 pistol.

Due to confusion, Michael held hostage his wife, Jinky Villamora, 30, inside their house as he refused to surrender.

Michael was a former security guard at a hospital in Argao while Jinky was a local registrar of the said town.

The hostage-taking lasted for more than three hours before Michael decided to surrender upon the request of his wife, Jinky.

Insp. Alejandro Batobalonos, Argao police chief, who is also a friend of Michael, went to arrest the suspect at around 12:25p.m. He had been calling the suspect and introduced himself as a policeman but the suspect did not reply.

After about five minutes, Michael opened the jalousie window in their living room and there held Jinky with his left arm while armed with a hand grenade and a .45 pistol in the other hand.

Batobalonos admitted the scene scared him but he remained calm and started negotiating with Michael.

Michael later let his seven-year-old daughter out of the house for safety.

Michael requested Batobalonos that he will peacefully surrender after the New Year and added if policemen could stay in his house to make sure he will not elude arrest.

However, Batobalonos refused and offered Michael to stay in one of the rooms at the police station rather than put him in jail so he could be with his family.

“Magkasumpaki man mi unya gahi na man siya maong nitawag na ko ug back-up sa provincial headquarters. (We disagreed and he refused to budge so I had to request for back-up from the provincial headquarters),” Batobalonos told The FREEMAN.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador immediately sent two teams of the Special Reaction Unit (SRU).

Police started their plot and was about to arrest Michael when Jinky shouted about her husband’s surrender.

Michael put down his hand grenade and pistol as he stepped out of the house.

In a separate interview, Jinky admitted she was scared but she trusted Michael.

“Nahadlok ko gamay pero nisalig ko nga dili ko niya pasakitan kay asawa gud ko niya. (I was a bit scared but I trusted him no to hurt me because I’m his wife),” Jinky said in a phone interview.

Aside from the warrant served against Michael, he also has pending charges for rape and attempted rape. Upon learning that a warrant was released against him, Michael decided to work as a security guard in Manila before going back to Argao.  (FREEMAN)