THE 28-year-old man who ran amok and took hostage a 10-year-old girl inside a 7-11 convenience store in Barangay Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, over the weekend, will be facing multiple charges, police said.
Charges of illegal possession of firearms and alarm and scandal will be lodged against the hostage-taker, identified as Nove Salon, a resident of Mahinog town, Camiguin.
The suspect is also likely to face charges for serious illegal detention in relation to child abuse law (Republic Act 7610) as well as malicious mischief.
Superintendent Mardy Hortillosa II, spokesperson of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo), said apart from the police, the victim's family and the store management may also file the cases.
Authorities received the report that a hostage crisis is taking place at 7/11 convenience store in Kauswagan, this city, around 9 p.m., Saturday, July 14, prompting the police to form a Critical Incident Management Task Group.
According to investigators, the victim and her brother had gone into the store when the suspect suddenly barged in.
Store workers said they heard the suspect saying he was being chased by the police and brandished a broken bottle.
The suspect later took the girl, tied her neck with a hose of the fire extinguisher and went through the store's stockroom.
He then took the unattended .38 caliber revolver owned by the security guard on duty and fired it once but went astray.
Through the concerted efforts of the police and the suspect's sister, the hostage-taker released the girl and turned himself in to the authorities after more than an hour of continuous negotiation.
“Ingon sa pamilya niya murag naa daw siya'y nervous breakdown kay dili daw to siya maistorya og maayo. Dako og tabang sa negotiation ang iyang igsoon para mapa-surrender ang suspect,” Hortillosa said.
Recovered from his possession were a caliber 38 revolver, live ammunition, a fired cartridge, cellphone, scissors and a broken bottle.
Suspect is now detained while the hostage victim will undergo psychosocial intervention to be administered by the city social welfare office.