Taft bus hostage-taker shot dead

Manila police shoot dead the bus’ hostage-taker. TETCH TORRES-TUPAS

THE knife-wielding man who stormed a bus Thursday on Taft Avenue, Manila and held hostage a woman passenger suffered two gunshots and was pronounced dead at the Philippine General Hospital.

READ: Passenger bus held hostage in Manila

Superintendent Albert Barot said the hostage-taker was shot 30 minutes after police were alerted on the incident.

“The police have to immediately act because there is already a threat to the life of the victim,” Barot said.

According to the passengers, the suspect in white shirt and basketball shorts boarded HM Transport Bus at Kalaw Street along Taft Avenue.

“May sinusundan syang lalaki,” one of the passengers said.

However, the man he was following got out of the bus. Irate, he grabbed the woman beside him and took her hostage.

The bus driver and conductor fled the bus on Pedro Gil, Taft Avenue in front of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and ran to the police station for help.

The passengers of the Alabang-bound bus were able to escape except for the victim.

The police were trying to talk to the hostage-taker but when he started poking the victim with a knife, the police fired four shots. The hostage-taker was hit twice, one in the abdomen.

READ: 2010 lesson learned: Manila bus hostage-taking over in 30 minutes

“I congratulate our police for a job well done,” Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada who went to the scene said.

Vice Mayor Isko Moreno also lauded the police for their quick response.

“It is good that no one was hurt. We have learned our lesson,” Moreno said referring to the 2010 Quirino Grandstand incident where Hong Kong nationals were taken hostage by a disgruntled police officer. Tetch Torres-Tupas