Laguna cop hailed for saving 2 kids in hostage taking

MABALACAT, Pampanga, Philippines – Local police authorities yesterday hailed a Laguna law enforcer as a “hero” for sacrificing his safety to save two children from a hostage taker in a bus cruising the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) last Monday afternoon.

PO2 Eduardo Santiago remained confined yesterday at the Garcia Hospital in Angeles City for stab wounds inflicted on him by hostage taker Isidro Brini when police forces blocked the Five Star bus in Barangay Mabiga here.

With the attack, Santiago was forced to shoot Brini who died on the spot, police probers said.

Brini’s motive in staging the hostage taking was not clear, but he was reportedly “very hungry,” having had his last meal at lunch last Sunday, police said.

“Santiago is very much a hero, and deserves to be recognized for gallantry in action,” said Senior Superintendent Rolando Mendoza, Mabalacat police chief, told The STAR.

Mendoza said Brini, a resident of Barangay Cutud, Angeles City, boarded the Five Star bus in Manila together with his five-year-old son Samuel and friends Rogelio Cardoman, Edgardo Lucena, and Adolfo Garabal.

Brini had recruited his friends from his hometown in Catarman, Samar to work with him in a piggery in Angeles City.

When the bus reached Kilometer 75 along NLEX in Barangay Akle in Mexico, Pampanga, Brini reportedly pulled out a fan knife and asked the driver to pull over.

Thinking that the bus broke down, another Five Star unit stopped behind it, and Brini allowed the passengers to transfer to it, but kept a one-year-old boy and a three-year-old girl as hostages.

“The friends of the suspect tried to hold him back but even they became afraid of him and they also moved to the other bus together with the suspect’s son (and the driver),” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said Santiago, who was in plain clothes in the second bus, volunteered to drive for Brini after he saw the two kids being held hostage.

“All the police forces toward the north were already alerted as Santiago drove on and the bus was already trailed by cops when it exited from the NLEX in Mabalacat. Even then, the bus was noted to be already swerving to either side, indicating some trouble,” Mendoza said.

A wounded Santiago later told probers that Brini, who was not aware he had a pistol tucked in his waist, was apparently agitated upon seeing many policemen along the MacArthur Highway in Barangay Mabiga here and was poised to harm one of his hostages, prompting him to stop the bus and try to get Brini’s fan knife.

During the scuffle, Santiago was able to pull out his gun and fired at Brini, even as the bus rammed into a dump truck along the road.

Mendoza said Brini’s son was turned over by social workers to his mother yesterday morning.

For his deed, Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, Laguna police director, said Santiago will be awarded the PNP Sugatang Magiting medal and will be provided medical assistance. – With Ric Sapnu, Ed Amoroso