Soldier-junkie holds girl hostage

A soldier, allegedly hooked on drugs, held hostage a grade school pupil in Cubao, Quezon City the other night.

Corporal Max Sison, 33, a member of the 7th Infantry Batallion at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, was charged yesterday with serious illegal detention and child abuse after he took hostage Liezl Loria, 11, Grade V pupil of Ponciano Elementary School.

The hostage drama started at around 6:45 p.m. after Sison was seen by witnesses running along Zambales street, Barangay San Martin De Porres, Cubao, Quezon City and crying for help because somebody was out to kill him.

PO2 Marlon Barruga, of the Central Police District Cubao Station, said a bystander approached the soldier and offered to accompany him to the barangay hall to report the unidentified man he claimed was running after him.

While on their way to the barangay hall, Sison run toward the house of the victim on 47-H Banahaw street, Barangay San Martin De Porres, Cubao, Quezon City where the girl was playing in front of her residence.

Sison pulled out a knife before he grabbed the girl and dragged her into one of the bedrooms at the second floor of the house.

Superintendent Alan Purisima, Cubao police station chief, arrived at the scene to convince the soldier to surrender and free the girl but Sison ignored him.

Police said Sison locked the room to where he had dragged the victim who was heard screaming everytime the suspect sensed that somebody was trying to open the door.

Purisima said the suspect even demanded to speak to GMA 7 announcer Mike Enriquez who arrived at the scene but failed to convince Sison to release his hostage.

Members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team also arrived at the scene and considered barging into the room and shooting the suspect if necessary, to save the girl.

Police called Captain Dominador Gaspar, the suspect’s superior, who arrived from Nueva Ecija.

Gaspar went inside the room and took the knife from Sison. He also succeeded in convincing Sison to release his hostage.

The suspect admitted to his superior and the police that he took a gram of shabu when it was offered to him by his friend in Gapan, Nueva Ecija before he went to Manila to buy a holster for his service firearm.

Police believed that the suspect has long been hooked on drugs. His superior agreed that he should undergo a drug test and face dismissal if he tested positive.

Meanwhile, two teenagers were arrested for stealing the side mirror of the car of Cubao police station commander Superintendent Alan Purisima a few meters away from the scene of the hostage drama.

Arrested were Anthony Mendoza, 17, and Christopher Canaba, 18, who were pinpointed by witnesses as the ones who stole the side mirror from the parked silver Toyota Corona owned by Purisima.

The suspects stole the side mirror while the police were busy negotiating for the surrender of Sison and the release of his hostage.

The suspects were detained at the Cubao police station and charges of theft are being readied against them.