Man takes saleslady hostage in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines - An alleged drug-crazed man took hostage a 19-year-old saleslady in Caloocan City yesterday morning.

Danica Dacer was walking in front of a bus station on her way to work at past 8 a.m. when Joshua Jericho Ramirez, 32, grabbed her and held her at knifepoint, city department of public safety and management head Larry Castro said.

Reports said that Ramirez, of Rajabago street in Tondo, Manila, was allegedly high on drugs.

Alerted by the commotion, Castro, who was manning traffic at the Monumento Circle, went to the scene and negotiated with Ramirez.

Police said the suspect wanted to talk to his mother.

Chief Inspector Reynaldo Medina, chief of the Bagong Barrio police station, arrived at the scene with members of the Caloocan police special reaction unit and joined in the negotiation.

Ramirez released Dacer after he was subdued by the police officers.

Castro, who was hurt during the scuffle, said appropriate charges were being readied against the suspect.