Monday, November 27, 2006 Officer resolves hostage drama By Jovy S. Taghoy Sun.Star Staff Reporter
A ROBBERY suspect was shot by an off-duty policeman shortly before noon yesterday, in what could pass for a textbook encounter of good versus evil.
While the suspect allegedly robbed two women in a jeepney, then held hostage a hotel intern along Gen. Maxilom Ave. in Cebu City, the policeman was hearing mass with his family.
PO1 Jerome Morales had to fire a shot to stop the suspect, Lemuel Capablanca Enguinella, 18. No one else was injured.
Authorities found a stainless knife and a .38 revolver on Enguinella, who initially identified himself as Lemuel Radaza of Kinasang-an, Pardo.
Though he was off-duty, Morales followed Enguinella to the Cebu City Medical Center, where the latter was brought to have a gunshot wound in his left side treated.
Investigators from the Theft and Robbery Section, led by SPO3 Isagani Pugoy and SPO1 Mario Pasuelo, learned that the trouble began when Enguinella allegedly robbed two cousins, Oliva and Neli Basnillo, who were on board a Lahug-bound jeepney.
While the jeepney was on Gen. Maxilom Ave. past 11 a.m., Enguinella declared a robbery and took Oliva’s cellular phone, a camera and P300 cash.
Oliva, however, shouted for help, prompting Enguinella to disembark and run to the Mango Park Hotel. Little did he know his captor would be there.
On the third floor of the same hotel, Morales was attending mass at the Holy Family Church with his family.
The service had just ended when Morales, who works with the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, spotted the establishment’s security guard Romeo Flores.
Flores had his firearm drawn and appeared to be chasing somebody, prompting Morales to check what was the matter.
He was informed that a robbery suspect had managed to sneak inside the establishment.
Morales positioned himself at the fire exit, anticipating that the suspect may use the door while Flores proceeded to the lobby.
At that point, a 17-year-old hotel and restaurant management intern was walking in the lobby when Enguinella yanked at her hair and pointed a gun at her head.
Flores, who managed to catch up, asked the suspect to free the girl.
Caught unaware, Enguinella let go of the 17-year-old intern and headed to the fire exit, where Morales was waiting.
The policeman asked Enguinella to give himself up but the latter instead pointed a gun, forcing Morales to fire.
Enguinella was taken to the hospital by the service vehicle of radio station DyAB, with anchorman Dave Tumulak on board, which happened to pass by the area.
