Manila cops in hostage case hailed

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza said the city government would give commendation to four rookie policemen for successfully bringing to a peaceful conclusion a hostage drama in Sta. Cruz last Sunday.

"I would like to commend the four police officers for successfully defusing the dangerous situation brought about by the hostage taking," said Atienza.

Despite the apparent danger to themselves, Atienza noted the policemen kept their wits and used their training in handling crisis situation during which 21-year-old Nilo Tagle held hostage egg vendor Nicanor Ilagan.

Commended were Police Officers 1 Emerson Relosa, Samuel Mendieta, John Labrador and Alvin Carmancio, all assigned to the Police Community Precinct – Western Police District – Station 3 (Sta. Cruz).

It can be recalled that the four cops were on routine patrol along Rizal Avenue when they spotted the suspicious looking Tagle on board a passenger jeepney.

When the policemen were about to accost Tagle, the suspect jumped off the jeepney and ran away, triggering a 10-minute chase between the policemen and Tagle.

Sensing that he was cornered, Tagle pulled out a fragmentation grenade and grabbed Ilagan, whom he held hostage for about 10 tense minutes. The policemen persuaded Tagle to release Ilagan and surrender.

Last Friday, Pasay City policemen bungled a hostage drama inside a bus terminal, killing both the four-year-old hostage victim and the hostage-taker. – Cecille Suerte Felipe