President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (Screenshot from PTV/RTVM)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Sunday said he will offer another detention center to former senator Leila de Lima who survived a hostage-taking attempt Sunday morning at the Philippine National Police custodial facility in Quezon City.
“Following this morning’s incident at Camp Crame, I will be speaking to Senator De Lima to check on her condition and to ask if she wishes to be transferred to another detention center,” said Marcos Jr. in a post on Twitter.
The Palace through the Office of the Press Secretary in a separate statement said that the incident took place at around 6:30 a.m.
It assured the public that both De Lima and a wounded police officer would receive all necessary medical and psychological attention needed.
It added that Marcos has already directed the PNP to “enforce all measures necessary to ensure that no act of violence in said facility and all other PNP detention centers shall happen again.”
The slain hostage taker, Feliciano Sulayao Jr., together with fellow detainees Arnel Cabintoy and Idang Susukan tried to escape from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The three reportedly stabbed a police officer, before Cabintoy and Susukan were gunned down by another responding law enforcer.
Sulayao ran and then managed to get to De Lima’s cell, where he then held her hostage.
Responding members of the Special Action Force eventually neutralized Sulayao.
De Lima was unharmed, while the stabbed officer, identified as Police Corporal Roger Agustin, was rushed to hospital.
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