1 killed, another hurt in Cavite hostage drama

Camp Vicente Lim, Laguna , Philippines   – An undetermined number of men believed to be members of the Bulacan kidnap-for-ransom gang held hostage a 23-year-old man in Imus, Cavite that led to the death of one victim and injuring another early yesterday morning, police said. 

Superintendent Ulysses Cruz, Imus police chief said a certain Mark Acuin Eusebio was held hostage inside his Unit 4 in a row of apartments in Barangay Tuklong 2, around 4 a.m.

Cruz said while they were conducting a checkpoint operation in their area following the running kidnap-for-ransom incident that started in Noveleta, Cavite where the armed suspects travelled all the way to Batangas, Nueva Ecija, Quezon and Bulacan on Thursday.

Cruz said the suspects managed to escape from the police checkpoint when they jumped into the river located at the back of Eusebio’s apartment before taking him hostage.

“Napaka-kitid ng daan patungo doon sa apartment, pero napaligiran na namin kaagad ang buong compound at nakapagbutas na rin kami ng pader para madaanan ng tropa in case magkaroon ng assault,” Cruz said.

Neighbors of the hostaged victims said they heard successive gunshots early morning and saw heavily armed policemen positioning themselves around the apartment compound.

Eusebio’s mother Amy in an interview with radio dzMM said that a certain Oliver or alias Bebot, who lives in Unit 5, was with his son when the hostage taking took place.

During the six-hour hostage negotiation, the body of a man was seen lying in front of Unit 4 and believed to be that of Oliver’s. Police, however, have yet to establish the real identity of the slain victim.

“Yung patay na nandoon sa labas ay hindi pa ma-determine ang identity dahil hindi pa malapitan ng tropa kasi nasa loob pa ang mga hostage taker,” a police officer said.

A witness said, Oliver could be the one who was lying dead on top of an Armalite rifle which was accidentally dropped by the suspects.

“Parang nasugatan si Mark nang mabaril siya ng mga pulis kasi inutusan ata siyang kunin yung baril na nahihigaan ni Oliver at napagkamalan siyang kidnaper,” a witness said.

Upon learning of the incident Amy appealed to the authorities saying - “Yung anak ko parang awa n’yo na, huwag nyong pababayaan.” Amy said she saw two armed men enter their apartment occupied by her son and another person.

Imus Mayor Manny Malicsi in an interview said, another suspect identified as a certain Roger remained inside with the victim.

“Nabulabog sila at dito po pumasok sa may looban ng apartment. Na-intercept naman po ng ating mga barangay officials at nagkaputukan,” he said.

At around 4 p.m. or more or less 12 hours later, hostage taker Roger Santos likewise decided to surrender to authorities a few hours after his brother, a certain Jun Santos turned himself in.

Senior Superintendent Alfredo Corpus, Cavite police director, said Roger released Mark unharmed after choosing a better alternative “which is to surrender.”