2 soldiers face raps over bar hostage

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Two Army soldiers are facing charges for allegedly taking hostage workers of a videoke bar here  Saturday.

Pfcs. Ruel Oboquin, 22, and Ronie Mameng, 24, both of the Army’s 19th Infantry Batallion (IB), reportedly barged into the Bahada Videoke Bar at around 3:45 a.m., looking for someone.

When they failed to find the person, the soldiers reportedly rounded up the workers identified as Manuel Duallo, security guard; Jason Escala, 22, waiter; Wealyn Yunson, 19, waitress; Giselle Galbiso, 20, cashier; Florama Ablen, 21; Billy Actob, 22, and Ryan Pantas, 23.  

The soldiers reportedly demanded that the bar be reopened, ordered for drinks and forced some workers to drink with them.

Pantas managed to escape and reported the incident to the city police, who compelled the two soldiers to surrender.

The police seized Mameng’s caliber .45 pistol.

Col. Dinoh Dolina, chief of the Army’s 802nd Brigade, said administrative charges would be filed against the soldiers.

Dolina clarified that the two were not originally from the Army’s 19th IB, but were pulled out from the Army’s Charlie Company to help in the rehabilitation of areas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda.