Catbalogan City hostage crisis ends: 3 wounded

CEBU, Philippines -  Policemen and firefighters of Catbalogan City in Samar ended a 3-hour hostage crisis at the office of the Social Security System where a security guard shot a fellow guard and an office clerk at around 2:45 pm yesterday (Jan. 18)

A report from the Philippine Information Agency stated that after a stand off with negotiators, the fire department broke the glass door of the SSS office enabling the police's Special Weapons Attack Team to barge inside.

The hostage taker was identified only as a certain Dabucol, a blue guard of the SSS. His victims were co-guard Melvin Oliva and SSS senior clerk Dionito Mate.  As of press time, both have been rushed to the hospital.

The hostage taker had also been shot and was also brought to the hospital.

A sketchy report from Dr. Dominador Cabangbangan, president of the Catbalogan Chamber who was reached by this reporter, said he was near the scene as it happened.

A few of the SSS employees who were freed by the hostage taker took refuge in his store, where they related to him what happened inside, said Cabangbangan.

Dabucol reportedly got mad at Oliva and shot the latter, who took cover at a teller's table, presumably that of Mate, but that did not deter the gunman from firing his gun. The shooting reportedly immediately took place after the employees timed in at 1 p.m..

The employees did not know what irked Dabucol but mentioned that it had something to do about the song "Pusong Sinugatan." They added that they were very scared, even when the hostage taker was letting them go out one at a time, because he was still aiming his shotgun at them.

Flash reports from the PIA to the media about the incident, stated that police desk officer PO2 Remuel Baliclic said the station was only informed of the hostage situation at around 1:07 p.m.

This prompted Samar Provincial Police director Eusebio Mejos, Catbalogan City Mayor Coefredo Uy, and City Police chief Avelino Doncillo to rush to the scene and tried to negotiate with Dabucol.

Dabucol reportedly remained adamant against yielding but he allowed some employees to go out. His victims, in the meantime, were bleeding inside. 

Even his wife, who the police fetched to "negotiate" with the hostage taker, failed to convince him to surrender. The police eventually had to take more forcible measures to rescue the guard's victims. (FREEMAN)