‘Celebrity’ wannabe sets houses on fire, takes boys hostage

CEBU, Philippines - Wanting to be a ‘celebrity,’ a 21-year-old man landed in jail after he allegedly burned down the house of his aunt and took two children hostage yesterday afternoon in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion.

Suspect Jello Ray Ramos has been reported to Consolacion Police Station earlier yesterday after he went wild, said Police Officer 1 Marivic Pepito of the station’s Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk.

At around 2 p.m., Ramos allegedly had an argument with his aunt, prompting him to burn down her house.

The fire spread to seven neighboring houses and left a damage of around P600,000.

Barangay tanods were the first to respond to the area and were informed by residents that it was Ramos who was responsible for the fire.

However, when the tanods were about to arrest Ramos, the latter reportedly grabbed a passing seven-year-old boy and pointed a kitchen knife at him.

Fortunately, the boy was very quick to free himself by pushing Ramos away.

Ramos then took another five-year-old boy and held him at knifepoint.

Pepito said the two boys suffered minor wounds to the hand and chest caused by the knife.

Ramos’ neighbors reportedly negotiated with him to free the boy, but the suspect said he wanted someone to take a video of him and have it uploaded online for him to become a celebrity.

After a 30-minute negotiation, the suspect then set the child free and put the knife down. He allegedly tried to run away but was still caught by the policemen, said Pepito.

The mother of the seven-year-old, in an interview, said she was not around during the hostage-taking as she was at the laundry shop working and was only informed about her son’s ordeal.

The five-year-old boy’s mother, on the other hand, said she was sleeping inside her house when she heard a noise outside.

The two said they are eager to file charges against Ramos as they fear that he might come back for them and threaten them.

Pepito said Ramos seemed like he was under the influence of illegal drugs when he did the crime.

She said the suspect had been detained at their station last September after he was caught bringing a bladed weapon.

Pepito said they will refer the children to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for psychological evaluation since it was apparent that the children, especially the five-year-old, were traumatized.

Meanwhile, Al Lauron, whose house for rent was among those damaged by the fire, said he will also file charges against Ramos, whom he described as naughty and a drug addict who always goes wild.

The suspect will be facing charges for arson, serious illegal detention in relation to Republic Act 7610, and for violating Batas Pambansa Bilang 6 or bringing bladed weapon, said Pepito. — Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/NSA (FREEMAN)