Hostage drama in Sta. Cruz

In an act of desperation, a 32-year-old electrician held hostage his three nieces and a nephew with a plastic toy grenade yesterday to prevent the demolition of his small shanty in Sta. Cruz, Manila.

Police said Rico Laron, of 998 Interior Felix Huertas Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila later surrendered to police after a three hour stand-off that began at around 9 a.m.

According to police, the hostage-taking was triggered by an eviction notice that was being served by Ferdinand Mercado, a court sheriff of the Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 11.

Police explained that the lot on which Laron’s shanty stands is owned by Victor and Blesilda Buencamino and has been the subject of an ownership case before the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court.

The court eventually decided in favor of the Buencaminos.

Police said Laron tried to convince Mercado to grant him an extension, but the duty-bound sheriff refused.

At this point, Laron allegedly went inside the shanty and grabbed what appeared to be a fragmentation grenade. He then tried to hurl the grenade at Mercado and his men, forcing them to call for police assistance.

Police said the suspect then went back inside the shanty where his nieces Rochelle Soriano, 12; Karen Soriano, 6; Aila Soriano, two months old and nephew Kent Soriano, 3 were sleeping.

When he saw that the snipers of the Western Police District-Special Weapons and Tactics team had begun taking their position near the shanty, Laron threatened to pull out the grenade’s pin and blow up the children.

At about 11:45 a.m., Mario Carmona, chairman of Barangay 311, arrived and was able to convince Laron to release the children to a group of police officers led by WPD director Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong.

Laron was immediately subdued by policemen.

Policemen secured the grenade, which turned out to be a plastic toy. Charges are now being prepared against the suspect, police said.

According to Laron, he was forced to hold his nieces and nephew hostage for fear that police snipers were about to take him out.