BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
ILOILO City – A 48-year-old man took hostage his 86-year-old mother in their house around noon yesterday in Barangay Progreso, Lapuz district.
After hours-long negotiations by the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) failed, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team decided to storm the house and subdue him.
This was the second time Charlie held his mother captive; he was believed to be suffering from a mental illness.
Police Major Mark Cordero said they had difficulty negotiating with Charlie. Many mediators were sent, including the suspect’s son. A “failed negotiation” was declared around 3:45 p.m.
The suspect switched off the lights in their house and was said to have sharpened knives, police said.
By the time Charlie was already heard shouting, Cordero said the SWAT team decided to go in.
“We tried our best para ma-save ang kabuhi sang victim kag sang suspect. Nagapasalamat gid ako sa team ICPO kag sa response team nga wala sang may nasamaran,” said Police Colonel Joeresty Coronica, ICPO officer-in-charge./PN