Truck driver holds girl, 9, hostage!
Victim rescued unharmed from suspect with 2 knives after 2 hours
THE truck driver pounced on the nine-year-old girl inside the Pisonet computer shop with two knives. He poked a sharp blade at the victim’s neck then dragged her outside – just like a hungry lion preparing its prey for the kill.
However, police on Thursday rescued unharmed the victim, who was held hostage by the knife-wielding truck driver inside a local computer shop, without any shots being fired, Police Regional Office 11 director, Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. said yesterday.
Silo said the suspect, identified as Nilo Mariano, a resident of Purok 16, Buhisan, Tibungco, Davao City, was subdued by officers led by Major Dante Baguio Jr. and Lieutenant Dante Espejon following a nearly two-hour negotiation.
Recovered from the suspect were two kitchen knives.
Investigation showed that the suspect grabbed the victim who was playing inside a Pisonet computer shop located in their neighborhood at around 11 a.m.
The truck driver pointed a knife at the victim’s neck before dragging her towards the nearby house of one Lolita Alce where he locked her up.
Silo said members of the Bunawan Police Station 6 and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team led by Espejon and Baguio rushed to the site and cordoned it off before negotiating for the peaceful surrender of the suspect.
At around 12:20 p.m. of the same day, the officers subdued the armed suspect and brought him to the local police jail. The victim was rescued unharmed and returned to her family.
Silo said the accused is facing a string of criminal charges.
