Man killed for taking child hostage

CEBU, Philippines —  A man from Cebu City who insisted on entering Barangay Subangdaku in Mandaue City was killed when he was neutralized by authorities after taking a child hostage midday Saturday.

Subangdaku Police chief Marvin Fegarido said they received the alarm about an armed man from barangay tanods who were manning the checkpoint at Sitio Riverside in line with the enhanced community quarantine.

The man, Jeffrey Tudtud, a resident of Barangay Duljo Fatima in Cebu City, reportedly got mad when the tanods told him he could not enter the barangay because of quarantine rules.

"Kato syang tawhana di tu sya taga dira pero naa na syay mga kaila diha sa sulod so gisita sya nga nganong muanha sya nga bawal pa nan karon. Nasuko siya, iyang gikalalis tung barangay tanod human mipakita syag armas (He’s not from there but knows someone in the area so he was told he could not enter at this time. He got angry, argued with the tanods, and showed them his firearm)," Fegarido said.

When the police arrived at the checkpoint, Tudtud reportedly fled and jumped into a nearby river. It took the police about an hour to trace him to one of the houses at a slum area.

However, Tudtud reportedly noticed the police arriving and grabbed a 10-year-old child who was eating outside another house and held the child hostage.

"Pagkabantay nga duol-duol na ang nga police didto sa balay, naa may batang nagkaon, mao tong iyang  gibira ba, gihimo niyang human shield (When he noticed that the police were near, he grabbed the child who was eating and made the child a human shield)," Fegarido said.

The police reportedly tried to talk to Tudtud to surrender but the suspect reportedly refused and tried to fire at the cops. His gun did not fire but an operative of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team who was responding to the incident made the decision to shoot Tudtud.

 "Di man sya patuo sa nga police... wa gyud sya ni-surrender, iya tang gisuwayan ug pusil atong mga pulis pero duha ka kakablit niya wa man jud kabuto… Walay choice among mga pulis… alang paabuton pa namo’g mubuto iyang pusil so gibirahan sya sa usa sa ni-responde nga SWAT. Pag igo niya mao to nakabuhi ang bata (He did not heed the call of the police… he did not surrender… he even tried to shoot the cops twice but the gun did not fire… our police did not have a choice; a SWAT member shot him. We could not just wait his gun to go off. The child was freed when Tudtud was hit)," Fegarido said.

Tudtud was rushed to the hospital but did not make it there alive. The child was turned over to DSWD and will be subjected to psychological intervention.

Fegarido said they received information that Tudtud has just been released from prison for illegal drugs. He reportedly has relatives in the Barangay Subangdaku who are allegedly into the drug trade.

"Nahibaw-an sad namo nga naa sya mga paryente dirang dapita nga mga drug personality (We also learned that he has relatives in the area who are drug personalities)," Fegarido said.

Resisting Police

Meanwhile, in Cebu City yesterday, four people were arrested for allegedly resisting ECQ rules at checkpoints.

One of those arrested, Jefferson Solon, 24, allegedly challenged a cop to a fistfight after he was flagged down at the checkpoint in Sikatuna Street in Barangay Zapatera.

Parian Police Station chief Armando Labora said Solon was riding his bicycle and reportedly got mad when cops on duty asked him if he has a quarantine pass.

The confrontation led to a heated argument with Solon allegedly kicking one of the cops.

In an interview, Solon admitted he was at fault and apologized for what he did.

"Gisita ko ma'am, nakalitan lang ko mao ng nisukol ko nila... muadto ko sa balay sa akong amigo, magkuha ko og kwarta.... mangayo ra gyud kog pasaylo nga nakadapat ko nila (I was just surprised when they called my attention, Ma’am, that’s why I fought back. I was heading to a friend to get money… I’d like to apologize for hitting them)," Solon said.

The other three suspects, all men, were arrested at around 4 p.m. in Barangay San Antonio.

Like Solon, they reportedly resisted authorities when they were flagged at a checkpoint and challenged a cop to a fistfight.

The three were identified as Alwin Jay Telen Jataas, 20; Yemar Ligson Toledo, 21; and Jerry Ramos Obien Jr., 20; all residents of Barangay Day-as.

They said they were biking to an area nearby to look for money they could use to buy supplies for their families. They reportedly ran out of cash as they have lost their jobs.

They admitted answering the police sarcastically and apologized for what they did.

All four suspects will face charges for disobedience to authorities. JMO (FREEMAN)