Hostage-taker shot dead in Marawi

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — An off-duty police officer shot dead a man who held hostage a grade school student in Barangay Dansalan in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur yesterday.

The Bangsamoro Regional Police said the hostage-taker first snatched the P500 bill the girl was holding, before grabbing and threatening to slit her throat with a knife when people tried to intervene.

He also ignored pleas to set free the child, prompting people to seek help from the policeman who was forced to shoot when the man pressed the knife against the girl’s neck.