Slain Taguig hostage-taker’s accomplice charged

The police filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges yesterday against the live-in partner and accomplice of the hostage-taker who was killed when police stormed a Taguig courtroom to end a two-day hostage drama.

Taguig police chief Superintendent Alfred Sotto Corpus said Delia de la Cruz is also facing an illegal weapons possession charge for having a fan knife during the hostage-taking.

The slain gunman – Almario Bautista, who was earlier identified as Almario Villegas – managed to smuggle in a small pistol and a grenade.

Bautista and De la Cruz, who were the defendants in a civil land dispute, held four people hostage when the complainant, Gina Ramos, refused to have the preliminary conference of the case reset. Ramos was among the hostages.

"Cases of direct assault upon officers of the court and physical injuries will also be filed against De la Cruz for mandhandling attorney Frederick Vallestero and his client, Gina Ramos," Corpus said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Bautista and De la Cruz took Ramos, court clerk Donna Dunuan, stenographer Liwanag Saloma, and Vallestero hostage when Ramos refused to have the case proceedings reset.

Bautista pulled out a gun and a grenade, which exploded when the police later stormed the courtroom on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, De la Cruz denied her alleged participation in the hostage-taking, claiming that Bautista acted on his own and added that he also threatened her if she didn’t help.

"This was not planned. Gina’s lawyer was unyielding and would want that the house and lot be transferred to her client’s name immediately. We don’t have money and we don’t know where to ask help. That is when Almario went out of control," said De la Cruz, who is now detained at the Taguig City Jail.

Dunuan and Saloma although both unharmed, are under observation at the Manila Doctor’s Hospital. Ramos is also in an undisclosed hospital.

Bautista, a movie stuntman, was killed during the shootout with the police and dropped the grenade in the confusion. It exploded in his face.

Police later learned that Bautista has a standing warrant of arrest for murder issued by a Taguig judge several years ago.

National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Reynaldo Varilla, Southern Police District director chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, Mayor Sigfrido Tinga and Corpus negotiated with Bautista for several hours.

Bautista had agreed to surrender but changed his mind as the hostages filed out of the courtroom. He fired at a police officer, prompting a gunbattle.

Tinga has ordered an investigation how Bautista was able to smuggle in the weapons.