A hostage situation on Recto Avenue in Manila on Tuesday, Feb. 18, ended peacefully after police officers, who acted as negotiators, chipped in and gave the P20,000 salary that the hostage taker's employer allegedly refused to pay him.

The hostage-taker went to Recto Avenue to allegedly demand for his unpaid salary from his employer.

However, upon arriving at his workplace, he claimed that no matter how much he pleaded, his employer refused to give him his salary. He was then chased by other employees, forcing him to run toward the scene of the hostage incident.

In his defense, he said he had no other choice but to take a hostage because he was being chased and needed to ensure his own safety.

“Wala naman po talaga akong balak na mang-hostage, napatakbo lang po talaga ako doon [hostage area] dahil po yung sa mga humahabol sa akin. Kasi po kaya ako napunta ss Recto para kunin yung sahod ko na ayaw nila ibigay (I really had no intention of taking a hostage. I just ran there [hostage area] because I was being chased. I went to Recto to get my salary, but they refused to give it to me),” he explained.

Manila Police District Intelligence Division Chief Col. John Guiagui, who led the negotiation, said the man simply needed his salary because he wanted to buy food for his children.

“Nag-usap kami, nalaman ko hindi siya binabayaran ng employer niya. So, it is a financial problem (We talked, and I found out that his employer wasn’t paying him. So, it’s a financial problem),” Guiagui said.

“Pinatawag ko yung nanay niya, ibinigay ko, binilang ko sa nanay niya yung pera. Sabi ko sa kaniya, ‘yumakap ka sa akin, walang mangyayari.’ Ibinaba niya yung kutsilyo, that's it. Natapos nang maayos (I called his mother and handed her the money. Then, I told him, 'Hug me, nothing bad will happen.' Then be put down the knife—that’s it. It ended peacefully,” he added.  

MPD Spokesperson Maj. Philipp Ines said the P20,000 given to the suspect’s mother came from the negotiators.

Prior to the hostage-taking incident, the suspect had reportedly stabbed an individual, whom he claimed was his employer’s partner, due to the same issue.

The suspect thanked the authorities for not harming him and for helping him despite the incident.

He apologized for what happened and said he is ready to face the consequences of his actions.

He also appealed to employers, stressing the need for fair treatment of workers.

“Sana sa mga katulad ko, sa mga amo, huwag naman bully-hin ang mga trabahador nila, ibigay ang tamang sahod (I hope employers will stop mistreating their workers and give them the wages they deserve),” he said.

The suspect is now detained at MPD Station 3 and will face charges of illegal detention, alarm and scandal, and illegal possession of a deadly weapon.