Cops nab Pasay hostage-taker

MANILA, Philippines - Police arrested yesterday a gun-wielding tricycle driver who held  hostage eight persons – five of them children – in a house along Canoy street, Barangay 132 in Pasay City.

Christopher Magsusay, 56, was taken into police custody after the children he held hostage for more than seven hours managed to escape.

The hostage drama ended before 1 p.m., with the hostage-taker rushed to the hospital and all the hostages safe, police said.

Magsusay’s wife Fely said she went out of the house at past 5 a.m. to buy bread when she heard gunshots. She said the residents were screaming and calling the police.

The suspect ran amuck and engaged responding policemen in a shootout as he broke into a house where he held captive a man, couple Baldo and Jonelle Veloso and their five children.

Operatives of the Pasay police arrived and negotiated with the suspect.

Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) snipers were deployed in the area as negotiations were being held.

Reports said the children managed to escape when Magsusay, who sustained a gunshot wound in the head, fell asleep at noon, prompting the SWAT team to seal off the area.

Police officers rushed inside the house, subdued the suspect and freed the remaining hostages.

Angelito Arantan of the Pasay police said the children were brought to the Pasay City General Hospital for trauma debriefing.

Police said criminal charges would be slapped against Magsusay, who was taken to the hospital for medical examination.