Cops gun down hostage taker

MANILA, Philippines - Police shot dead a man who ran amuck in an eatery in Ermita, Manila and took a 21-year-old cashier hostage at dawn yesterday.

Police have yet to identify the hostage taker who died at the scene after responding operatives from the Manila Police District Station 5 shot him in the head, Inspector Steve Casimiro, head of the MPD’s homicide division, said.

Casimiro said the motive behind the hostage-taking incident has yet to be established.

Investigators said the man broke into the RJ eatery at the corner of Pedro Gil and Taft Avenue at around 1 a.m. and grabbed a butcher’s knife.

Randy Canlas, an employee of the eatery, was surprised and called the suspect’s attention. But he turned violent and kicked Canlas.

Canlas ran out of the eatery, prompting the suspect to grab cashier Joana Lacsama whom he held hostage at knifepoint.

Responding policemen had to shoot the suspect when he started hacking Lacsama.

The victim suffered a knife wound to the arm and was taken to the Philippine General Hospital for treatment.

Police described the hostage taker as between 35 and 40 years old. The name Michael was tattooed on his right arm.

He was wearing a t-shirt with the words Delta Sigma Fraternity printed on it.

His remains were brought to the St. Rich Funeral for autopsy.