Jilted man holds live-in partner hostage

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — A 21-year-old jobless man took hostage his live-in partner in this city yesterday.

The hostage-taking situation started at around 1:25 p.m. and ended an hour later with Jerome Dicañas, a resident of Aguinaldo, La Paz district releasing his partner, 19-year-old Malou, physically unharmed.

Senior Supt. Ruperto Floro, Iloilo City Police chief, said Jerome entered a fastfood chain outlet inside a mall in Valerio–Delgado St.  where Malou works as a service crew.

Armed with a Swiss knife, Jerome grabbed Malou and brought her to the store’s crew room on the second floor.

Floro and responding policemen later arrived and negotiated for the suspect to surrender and release his hostage. It was Supt. Uldarico Garbanzos, chief of the Iloilo City Public Safety Company, who led the negotiation.

Jerome reportedly took Malou hostage after the latter informed him earlier that she wanted to end their relationship. The couple has a one-year old daughter.

“Basically, we told him to talk things out with his partner. It was good that he listened to us,” Floro said.

Charges for serious illegal detention and violation of the Comelec gun ban may be slapped against Jerome, who remained in police custody. (FREEMAN)