FISHERMAN TAKES 16-YEAR-OLD BOY HOSTAGE IN BALIWAG PUBLIC MARKET

BY KEVIN GALANG

A FISHERMAN on Wednesday took a 16-year-old boy hostage after stabbing two others at the Baliwag Public Market in Bgy. Poblacion, Baliwag City, Bulacan.

Suspect alias “Dima,” of Bgy. Poblacion, Baliwag City, Bulacan, was later subdued by responding police officers.

A report to Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Penones Jr. by the Bulacan police showed that the suspect, who was armed with a kitchen knife, attacked and stabbed Lady Lyn Viernes, 25, of Bgy. San Jose, Baliwag City, who was then walking along the market aisle.

Viernes managed to fight back and ran away after sustaining a slight  wound on the head.

The suspect then stabbed security guard Benancio dela Peña, 48, of Candaba, Pampanga, before taking the teenager hostage.

Police officers led by Lt. Ariel  Modelo immediately responded to the area.

Modelo attempted to negotiate with the suspect to release the teenager.

However, the suspect refused and when an opportunity arose to distract him, a policeman seized the knife and subdued the suspect to prevent further harm to the hostage.

The wounded victims were brought to the hospital for medical treatment.

Charges for attempted homicide in relation to Republic Act 7610 also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act are being readied for filing in court against the suspect.

An investigation is ongoing on what triggered the stabbing and the hostage-taking.