Murder suspect holds 4 Batangas folk hostage

Batangas, Philippines – A murder suspect held four people hostage after engaging lawmen in a shootout in Balayan town here yesterday afternoon.

Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio, Batangas police director, said suspect Jun Pineda sensed the approaching arresting officers, prompting him to open fire at them.

Pineda, believed to be a member of a gun-for-hire syndicate, was hit but still managed to commandeer a vehicle from a passing motorist and sped toward Barangay Sampiro in Balayan town.

Pineda then barged into a house and at gunpoint took the four people there hostage.

After a few hours of negotiations, Pineda released three of the victims, leaving Rodolfo Banagwas as the remaining hostage.

Police negotiators said Pineda sought an audience with his former employer, Marlon Timbok, chairman of Barangay Papaya in Nasugbu town, and after more than three hours, finally surrendered to the authorities.