TWO persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) and a jail officer were killed while two other jail personnel were injured during a hostage drama that resulted in a shootout at the Marikina City Jail on Thursday afternoon, according to Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

BJMP spokesperson Jail Chief Insp. Xavier Solda confirmed that the two killed PDLs allegedly managed to grab the firearm of a jail staff at around 5 p.m. at the BJMP Facility on the 4th floor of the Legislative building in Marikina City.

Prior to the incident, the two PDLs approached the nurses at the infirmary of the jail facility for a medical check-up. Minutes later, the two PDLs were able to grab the service firearms of one of the duty jail officers in their jailbreak attempt, after which two female jail officers were held hostage at a certain room adjacent to the main door.

The incident was reported to the Marikina Police and a team from Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) immediately responded to the area.

More or less 14 successive shots were heard prompting SWAT personnel to assault the room after assessing that the hostage takers posed imminent danger on the lives of the hostages.

A negotiation lasted for 30 minutes. However, the PDLs shot the responding policemen prompting the latter to retaliate.

After the assault at around 6 p.m., the two female hostages were freed while the hostage takers were killed.

The PDLs had been detained for rape charges, according to the BJMP.

The hostage takers were able to shoot one of the jail officers at the adjacent cubicle.

The two hostage takers as well as the injured jail officer were brought to Amang Rodriguez hospital while the hostages are now under the PNP custody for debriefing.

The BJMP personnel succumbed to his critical injuries. The other two officers are recuperating and are in good condition.

BJMP Chief Jail Director Allan Iral has ordered the conduct of an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, all jail facilities within the National Capital Region have been ordered to on alert following the hostage incident.