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Tuesday, September 30, 2003
Hostage taker uses pen
By Mia E. Abellana
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
TO STOP “hitmen” from coming after him, a man held his cousin hostage using a blue Apache pen for more than an hour yesterday morning.
However, police believe Ramil Batiancela, 28, was just paranoid as a result of the shabu he sniffed the night before.
His cousin Jay Layao, 20, also said that Batiancela had lost it and imagined things were happening to them.
Layao told reporters that he was just sleeping inside his boarding house when Batiancela suddenly pushed him away from the bed.
Batiancela then pushed the bed to block the door. He grabbed Layao and pointed the pen at his cousin’s neck.
Teams
Separate teams from the Special Weapons and Tactics, Mobile Patrol Group and the Waterfront Police Station surrounded the Benedicto Bldg. on D. Jakosalem St., Cebu City after learning of the hostage-taking.
Cebu City Police Office Director Cecil Ezra Sandalo and his deputy Supt. Melvin Gayotin were also there to supervise the negotiations.
Batiancela admitted that he and Layao sniffed shabu the night before. Batiancela had just arrived from Bantayan Island when he joined Layao and his friends in the drug session.
Shabu
Layao admitted that he and Batiancela were sniffing shabu, along with his fraternity “brods” Sunday night.
He said that after the pot session at 7 p.m., he and his brods continued to drink while Batiancela excused himself because he was not feeling well.
Layao said that a woman called through his cellular phone looking for Batiancela, but he did not know what they were talking about.
The next thing he knew, Batiancela was causing a commotion in their room and holding him hostage.
“It wasn’t planned. He surprised me. It was the drugs,” Layao said, referring to the shabu they sniffed the night before.
He said no one was going after Batiancela. Batiancela, however, was sure there were men trying to take him away.
“They were many who tried to take me since 3 p.m.,” he said in Cebuano.
Batiancela said he promised Layao nothing would happen to him because it was him (Batiancela) that the men wanted. So he used Layao to protect him.
Layao suffered minor wounds on his neck and left hand from trying to wriggle free from Batiancela’s grasp.
Sandalo said that he was glad Filomeno Villaruel, whom both Layao and Batiancela knew from their hometown in Bantayan, was there to talk to Batiancela.
Batiancela surrendered as soon as Villaruel entered the room about 7 a.m.
Tests
Both Batiancela and Layao will be submitted for drug tests.
Sandalo said that when they arrived at the scene, they had to know Batiancela’s weapon and his state of mind. Sandalo said that when they learned that Batiancela was only using a pen, they knew they could talk to him.
“I am glad that we responded fast and that the incident was not serious,” Sandalo told reporters.
Batiancela, for his part, did not regret what he did, even if he had to be arrested for it.
“Why would I regret it? I’m alive now because of what I did,” he said.
(September 30, 2003 issue)
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