Injured	Killed
2	1

Date: 04 November 2010
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/11/04/10/child-taken-hostage-makati-2-hurt

MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – A hostage-taker in a barangay in Makati died after being wounded in a shootout with police, the Makati police chief said Thursday.

Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio, Makati City police director, said 2 suspects riding tandem on a single motorcycle shot a fireman, identified as a certain Fire Officer 3 Guce, using a machine pistol after trying to take his motorcycle in Bangkal past 1 p.m.

Roving policemen, however, saw the incident and shot at the attackers, starting a gunbattle that instantly wounded one of the suspects and a civilian. The other suspect quickly fled the scene, Bonifacio said.

“Initially, the suspect took an elderly lady hostage but he had to let her go. He tried to escape in some of the residential homes here in Belarmino Street but he was cornered and died from his wounds,” he told ANC’s On The Scene.

He said the police eventually found the suspect in one of the houses past 2 p.m. Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) have begun an investigation.

He described the suspect as between 30-35 years old, medium build with fair complexion.

Bonifacio said the suspect could be part of a criminal syndicate behind a series of riding-in-tandem armed robberies in Barangay Bangkal. He said the suspect was packing an Ingram machine pistol and had used a fake license plate on the motorcycle used in the robbery attempt.

“This is a very high-profile group. There were a series of robberies in the area, at least 3 and this is the 4th. He was carrying a machine pistol and if he had shot indiscriminately, he could have killed a lot of people,” the police chief said.

He warned the public to be extra careful during the “ber” months, which is when more robberies occur.  —Reports from Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News, and Jon Ibañez, radio dzMM