Former Sen. Leila de Lima was declared safe after she was held hostage by one of the three high-risk inmates following their attempt to escape from the Custodial Center of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
“Senator de Lima is now safe while the police officer who was stabbed was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Three PUPCs (Persons Under PNP Custody) were all neutralized and SOCO (Scene of the Crime Operation) is now at the scene of the incident,” said Police Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba, chief of the PNP Public Information Office.
Alba said it all started when three inmates grabbed a policeman who was distributing food ration at the maximum compound of the PNP Custodial Center at around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9.
Alba identified the three inmates as Arnel Cabintoy, Idang Susukan and Feliciano Sulayao Jr.
Based on the report obtained by the Manila Bulletin, the three stabbed a certain Police Corporal Agustin who was then assigned to distribute the food ration using an improvised knife.
Another policeman, Patrolman Matias, noticed the incident and warned the three inmates to let go of his buddy.
But the three inmates continue stabbing Agutin which prompted Matias to open fire. The bullets hits Cabintoy and Susukan.
But Sulayao was able to run away and proceeded to the detention facility of de Lima whom he held hostage.
“Members of the Special Action Force immediately responded to the incident and negotiated with Sulayao but to no avail. Since the situation is escalating, the tactical team engaged Sulayao and he was neutralized,” said Alba.
Alba said the incident ended at 7:18 a.m.
In-depth probe
PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. immediately ordered an investigation as to how the inmates were able to obtain an improvised knife and to find out all the circumstances that led to the hostage-taking.
“Tension inside the detention facility has been defused and the situation has returned to normal while investigation is ongoing to review the security protocols inside the PNP Custodial,” said Azurin.