Cop shoots knife-wielding man who took kin hostage in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — A police officer fatally shot a 26-year-old knife-wielding man who had taken some of his relatives hostage in Barangay 860 in Pandacan, Manila on Saturday morning, according to the Manila Police District (MPD).

Police identified the suspect as Ranil Christian Baje, 26.

Barangay Chairman Rene Janda in Pandacan reported to police that Baje burned his relatives’ house down on Floresca Street at around 10:00 a.m.

Then he took three of his relatives hostage — namely, his 59-year-old grandmother Imelda Padilla, his 23-year-old uncle John Bernard Padilla, and his 29-year-old aunt Maria Regina Padilla.

Police officers then rushed to the incident.

Insp. Genesis Aliling, chief of the Beata Police Community Precinct, and one of his men, Insp. Francis Guevarra, tried to negotiate with the suspect.

But Baje stabbed Aliling several times. Guevarra tried to intervene but was also wounded. Aliling then shot the suspect.

Baje was taken to the nearest hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, Aliling and Gueverra were declared in stable condition and discharged from the hospital. /atm