He wanted killing spree stopped Police kill drug pushing suspect who took 4 hostages at station

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — In a span of five days, at least 25 suspected drug pushers were killed all over the country as the police stepped up its campaign against illegal drugs, and this probably drove a known drug pushing suspect to take hostage four people right inside a police station in Estancia, Iloilo.

Romy Albor, a known illegal drug pusher in Estancia, on Thursday was however killed by the police, as the four-hour long negotiation for his surrender failed.

Albor, who shoot it out with the police, was hit with multiple shots and died near the Estancia Central Elementary School, but a policeman, Police Officer 2 Richard Rufino, and a hostage Jerome Gelvezon were wounded in the crossfire. The two were taken to a hospital in Balasan town.

Aron Palomo, spokesperson of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, said that on Thursday afternoon, Albor brought with him a companion, Gelvezon, and they hijacked a motorcycle in Balasan. Gelvezon, apparently unaware of Albor’s plan, drove the motorcycle and they went to the Estancia Police Station.

There were reportedly no policemen on duty at the station at the time, making it easy for Albor and Gelvezon to enter. When the two were inside, Albor took hostage Gelvezon, who he handcuffed to one of his hands to make sure the latter would not flee.

Albor, who had a gun and a grenade, also took hostage three civilian employees—John Gabriel Casibual, Michelle Parcon and Mark Gumban—and ordered them to get the key and free the five detainees, particularly a certain John Paul Santos who was arrested last week for drugs.

At some point during the hostage-taking, Albor wrote a post using Gumban’s Facebook account (user name was Mark Marking Marker) addressed to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. He wrote in Hiligaynon the statement (translated): “If the police won’t stop hunting the pushers, we would also harm the civilians and their family.”

Albor then ordered Gumban to look for the key to the detention cell, a few meters from the station, and free the detainees there. When Gumban did not return, Albor got angry and fired his rifle.

Shortly after, Estancia Councilor Danilo Bataga, produced the key and, together with the four hostages, Albor went to the jail. It was then that Parcon was able to shake off and flee. This made Albor angrier.

Responding policemen then began the negotiation with the hostage taker. “We can’t just shoot him. He had a gun and a grenade. Aside from the hostages, we fear for the safety of kibitzers who were all around the scene,” Palomo explained. Albor made several demands but, when he sensed these could not be granted him, he started firing his gun.

Senior Superintendent Roderick Augustus Alba, IPPO director, said said members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team had no other recourse but to fire surgical shots and kill Albor.

Following the incident, Palomo said Alba ordered the creation of an investigating team to determine the administrative lapses of the police station. “How come there was not a single policeman at the station?” Palomo asked.   (FREEMAN)