Hostage taker arrested in Parañaque

A 30-year-old man was arrested by police agents after he held hostage a 47-year-old woman and her 14-year-old son inside a house in Parañaque City following a botched robbery yesterday afternoon.

Now detained at the Parañaque police detention center is Joji Arias, alias "Dangwa," a resident of Sta. Cruz, Manila. Arias, along with two unidentified accomplices, entered the San Dionisio Maternity Clinic, located along Quirino Avenue, Santiago Compound, Barangay San Dionisio, at around 5:45 a.m., apparently to rob the clinic.

But clinic helper Tess Oliveros, however, screamed for help when the robbers entered. This prompted Arias and his companions to stab her.

Running out of the clinic in panic, the three men fled to different directions and were chased by barangay tanods.

Arias reportedly barged inside the residence of Maritess Allanigue and her son Lucas Madsen and held them hostage to stop his pursuers.

Barangay officials and policemen then negotiated with Arias, asking him to free his hostages.

In the course of the negotiations, a team of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) policemen from Parañaque, Makati and Pasay City, decided to take matters into their own hands and stormed the house to arrest Arias.

The Allanigues came through the harrowing experience with bruises and minor scratches on the different parts of their bodies.

Police are preparing the charges to be filed against Arias and his companions. – Rainier Allan Ronda