Two children of Legazpi bank exec taken hostage

LEGAZPI CITY — Three men and a woman, armed with handguns and a fragmentation grenade, took hostage two children, aged 6 and 9, of a bank executive at a beach resort 13 kilometers from this city at noon yesterday.

The hostage-taking was still going on as of press time.

Police said the hostage-takers flagged down the car of Esmeraldo Burgos, branch manager of the Insular Bank here, in front of the school of his sons Kevin Joshua, 9, and James Stephen, 6.

They then commandeered the car and drove toward Sto. Domingo town and ordered Burgos to alight in Barangay Padang, the last village before reaching the municipality.

The group then checked in with Burgos’ children at the Reyes Beach Resort in Barangay Kalayukay, Sto. Domingo town, at noon.

Police said Burgos was probably dumped to get the P2-million ransom the hostage-takers had demanded. Burgos, in turn, reported the incident to the police.

Negotiations with the hostage-takers bogged down, prompting the police to seek the help of Bishop Jose Sorra of the Archdiocese of Legazpi City.

After a two-hour dialogue, Sorra said the hostage-takers were demanding an armored van as getaway vehicle and P2-million ransom, in exchange for the release of Burgos’ sons.

Police suspect that one of the hostage-takers was a relative of Burgos because the two children called him "Tito George."