MANILA, Philippines — A doctor was held hostage by a security guard inside the emergency room of the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) in Quezon City early Wednesday morning.
In a report, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) of Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said the security officer went to the EAMC emergency room for treatment of his injuries from a motorcycle accident.
The victim was taking care of some patients when the suspect allegedly grabbed a syringe and held her hostage at 5 a.m. prompting nearby medical personnel to call the police.
Police said the suspect did not “make any demand or complaint” during the hostage incident. After several minutes of negotiation, the suspect released the victim and put down the syringe.
Members of the QCPD CIDU then arrested the suspect and brought him to the CIDU unit at Camp Karingal, Quezon City.
In an interview over Teleradyo, QCPD CIDU chief Police Major Elmer Monsalve said they are readying grave coercion, grave threat, and alarm and scandal complaints against the suspect.
Monsalve said medical personnel at the emergency room also treated the suspect’s wounds before he was turned over to the QCPD CIDU.
“‘Yung suspect, yung injury niya may plaster sa mukha, may gauze. Bago dinala dito, makikita na ginamot pa siya habang tinurnover sa amin,” he said.
(The suspect had a gauze on his face. Before he was turned over to the station, it can be seen that he was treated.)
In another interview with Teleradyo, Dr. Willie Solidares, head of the EAMC’s emergency room, said the victim was not hurt during the hostage taking incident.
“Ang aming doctor ay nasa maayos na kalagayan medyo nagulat lang talaga siya kanina. Wala na naman pong sugat si doktora. Wala namang physical injuries sa kanya,” he said when asked about the condition of the doctor.
(Our doctor is alright. She was just a little surprised earlier. She did not have any wounds. She has no physical injuries.)
The victim requested not to be identified in the police report, Solidares said.