Cops rescue woman from hostage taker

MANILA, Philippines - Police rescued unharmed a 38-year-old woman from her reportedly mentally disturbed relative who held her hostage Tuesday night in Tondo, Manila.

Through persuasion, Senior Inspector Joselito Binayug managed to convince Arjay Villanueva, 25, to let go off his cousin Evangeline Maamo after an hour of negotiation, according to Moriones police station chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino. Villanueva also surrendered an 18-inch long jungle bolo used in the hostage taking.

Espino said that for no apparent reason, Villanueva, who was then having a conversation with his cousin, held on tightly to Maamo’s right hand and pointed a jungle bolo on her neck, attracting the attention of passersby along Lakandula street.

Responding cops cordoned off the area, as Binayug tried to negotiate for the hostage’s release.

Espino said Villanueva made “unrealistic” demands while the police tried to please the suspect by promising that he will get what he is asking for. “We sensed that the suspect was hallucinating since he kept on saying that there are people around who were after his life, so my negotiator tried to play up with him,” Espino told The STAR. The suspect also threatened to stab his hostage with the jungle bolo if his demands were not granted.

After an hour, police succeeded in asking Villanueva to release his cousin from his clutches, to the relief of people milling around, Espino said. Both the suspect and his hostage suffered no injury.

Charges of grave threat, alarm and scandal were filed against the hostage taker.         – Nestor Etolle