Off duty soldier saves toddler from hostage taker

MANILA, Philippines - When T/Sgt. Gilbert Ang saw the hostage taker holding a one-year-old toddler at knife point in Antipolo City last Saturday, images of his six-year old daughter flashed in his mind.

Ang was not on duty and was on his way home on board a motorcycle when he saw the commotion along Sumulong Highway in Barangay Mambugan.

The 39-year-old Army soldier was wearing civilian clothes and basketball shorts, definitely not the outfit for a skirmish or a rescue mission. Ang, nevertheless, decided to take the risk.

"I remembered my own six-year-old daughter. It could happen to her and someone has to save her too. I was willing to take the risks of getting harmed and even being blamed if I fail," Ang said.

Ang joined the crowds to investigate. The 28-year-old hostage taker, Alvin Occidental, was poking a knife on the neck of his own daughter Gwen. Before the hostage-taking incident, Occidental’s wife left him for another man, military officials said.

Not far from the suspect were policemen who tried but failed to free Gwen by negotiating with the hostage taker.

Ang, a member of the elite Joint Special Operations Group, approached the police and offered to rescue the child.

"I told them that I can do something with the help of a few unarmed civilians. I explained that the suspect might stab the child because he was very agitated and appeared emotionally unstable," he said.

Two civilians volunteered to help Ang in his daring rescue attempt.

"I assigned myself as the main effort, the civilians and policemen as the supporting efforts. It was like a military operation where I am the over-all leader and primary actor," he said,” he said.

Under his plan, Ang would ram his motorcycle on the left side of the hostage-taker's body to throw him off-balance. Once the hostage taker’s attention is diverted to the motorcycle, the two civilians and policemen will grab the knife and the child from the hostage taker.

"I made sure that the plan was clearly understood by all players. The suspect had already walked about a kilometer towards Marikina-Infanta highway and was visibly exhausted," he said.

The plan was easier said than done. Ang admitted that he had to abort it twice because Occidental had grown suspicious and had threatened to kill the child. Ang’s patience, however, paid off.

While Occidental was not looking, Ang raced towards him and aimed the front wheel of his motorcycle on his left leg. He hit the mark and crashed just beside the suspect, whose attention was diverted away from his victim.

"I was not fully aware of the next scene because people rushed in. I felt something hit my buttock but I sensed the pain on my leg which smashed on the road," Ang said.

The stab wound on Ang’s left buttock was worth it. The two civilians and policemen were able to seize the knife and the child from the hostage taker, who was beaten by angry spectators.

"I also pity him because I saw his face and his blank stare. He might have some personal problems that led him to do the unthinkable," Ang said.

Ang was lauded for the daring rescue but for the elite Army soldier, it was just part of the job.

"I did what a father needs to do in that difficult situation. I am also a soldier so the more that I have to show the people that I can protect them when they need my help," he said.