Cops kill hostage-taker in Caloocan

MANILA, Philippines - A 37-year-old welder was shot dead by police officers after he took a seven-year-old girl hostage in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City Wednesday night.

The girl was playing ball with her brother in front of their house in Barangay 176 shortly before 6 p.m. when the ball rolled near the house Charito Rasonable was renting, Superintendent Rey Ariza said.

Rasonable reportedly dragged the girl into his house and threatened to kill her with his pen gun.

After four hours of negotiations, Ariza said he ordered police officers to barge into Rasonable’s house since the suspect had been increasingly agitated.

Rasonable shot at Police Officer 1 Nacer Ferreras, who was saved by his bulletproof vest. The girl was rescued and Rasonable was declared dead on arrival at the Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital.

Rasonable’s neighbors said he had been sleepless for three nights prior to the incident and had been saying someone was out to kill him.

Ariza said Rasonable transferred to Caloocan from Litex Road in Quezon City two months ago. He said they are checking reports that Rasonable was wanted by the Quezon City police.