Injured guard holds female doc hostage at East Ave. Medical Center


A hostage taking incident took place at the East Avenue Medical Center on Wednesday morning involving a security guard and a lady physician.

The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) identified the suspect as Hilarion Achondo, 51, a security guard.

Initial reports showed that Achondo was brought to the emergency room of the said hospital after sustaining injuries from a motorcycle accident when he suddenly "took a syringe" and aimed it at Dr. Russell Carandang, who was then attending to several patients, around 5:50 a.m.

A commotion ensued when Achondo allegedly tried to inject the syringe on the doctor's neck,  prompting several police officers in the facility to calm him down.

"Sensing the immediate danger to the victim, Staff Sergeant Bienvenido Ribaya III introduced himself as police officer and tried to calm down the suspect, but the latter did not make any demand or complaint," the police report read.

Maj. Elmer Monsalve, head of the QCPD's Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, in an interview over DZMM said while being held hostage, Carandang assured Achondo that she would help him.

Achondo eventually released Carandang and threw off the syringe, according to police, leading to his arrest.

Monsalve said they would file Grave Coercion and Alarm and Scandal charges against the suspect. They are also looking into possible violation of the Bayanihan To Heal as One Law.

Manila Bulletin tried to get a statement from Dr. Dennis Ordoña, the spokesperson of East Avenue Medical Center but said, "I don't have the complete details yet."