50 bus passengers held hostage in Negros town

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - A 26-year-old man held at least 50 passengers of a Ceres bus hostage at a terminal in Hinigaran town of Negros Occidental, Sunday afternoon.

Chief Inspector Lino Dalisay, chief of the Hinigaran Police, identified the hostage-taker as Richard Opelio, of Barangay 4 in Kabankalan City, who was armed with a .38-caliber revolver.

Opelio held the passengers at gunpoint inside the bus, which was travelling from Bacolod City to Kabankalan City, at around 2:45 p.m. He tried to drive the bus himself, but failed because the engine suddenly conked out.

Dalisay said responding policemen tried to negotiate with the suspect for about an hour, after which a male passenger, identified as Lawrence Palmos, 24, of Barangay Tuyom in Cauayan town, saw the opportunity to grab the suspect's firearm.

Palmos and Opelio grappled with the latter's gun, which went off but the bullet got stuck inside the barrel. Shortly after Palmos was able to drag the suspect near the bus' door where the policemen eventually disarmed and subdue the suspect.

This prompted the other passengers to maul the suspect, who sustained head injuries.

Dalisay said the injured Opelio was apprehended and brought to the Hinigaran Municipal Health Center for treatment. Investigation was still conducted on the incident, as of press time yesterday.