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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Hostage situation in Greenhills ends in commotion

Hostage situation in Greenhills ends in commotion

Published Mar 2, 2020 12:00 am
By Jhon Aldrin Casinas The hostage crisis at a mall in San Juan City was about to end after the hostage-taker surrendered and released his hostages when a commotion suddenly occurred, sending people witnessing the incident to a frenzy. (Photo via Aldrin Casinas / MANILA BULLETIN) (Photo via Aldrin Casinas / MANILA BULLETIN) After nine hours of standoff, hostage-taker Archie Paray surrendered to the authorities after negotiations and apologies from high-ranking security officials of the shopping center and its hired security agency. All of his hostages have also been released after over nine hours of being held hostage. Earlier today, Paray held hostage around 30 employees and shot another security guard, identified as Ronald Velita, at V-Mall located in Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City, authorities said. READ MORE: Disgruntled security guard still holding 27 hostages in San Juan Velita was rushed to nearby Cardinal Santos Medical Center for treatment, and was said to be in stable condition. Paray alleges that the “corruption” in the shopping center urged him to stage a hostage-taking incident. This “corruption” has since been denied by the high-ranking officials of Greenhills Mall and its hired security agency SASCOR during a press briefing with reporters. Paray alleged that his superiors receive a P5000 bribe money from tenants. He also asked San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora what will happen to him after his surrender. “Pagkatapos nito mayor, saan ang pupuntahan ko, sa presinto o sa sementeryo?,” Paray asked Zamora. The mayor told Paray to think about his family. But Paray replied to him that he would rather choose the cemetery. Moments after Paray momentarily stopped talking, commotion occurred when a authorities suddenly tackled Paray and pinned him down. According to authorities, a firearm of undetermined caliber was seized from his possession. Members of the media as well as the mayor and city officials who accompanied him scrambled to get away from the commotion. Zamora told reporters after the situation had normalized that they knew all along that Paray was armed, but he said that they were “watching his two hands.” “Meron siyang baril kanina. So paglabas niya meron siyang baril kanina,” Zamora said. The mayor said that they decided to let Paray calm down first by letting him “express his feelings towards the security agency.” Paray is now under the custody of San Juan City Police. READ MORE: Mall security head, coordinator, security agency officers, tender their resignations after hostage crisis READ MORE: San Juan mall working closely with authorities on hostage incident
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