Standoff in Antique jail over; hostage-takers surrender

MANILA, Philippines — The standoff in a jail in Antique that began Thursday when two of its prisoners held hostage fellow inmates is over following the surrender of the suspects, police said.

Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol, Region 6 police director, said Christopher Fernando and Lloyd Francisco surrendered their weapons to the authorities after several hours of negotiations.

The hostage-taking incident happened after Fernando shot and killed Jail Officer 2 Romer Saquibal using a caliber .38 revolver while the inmates were being rounded up for dinner inside a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility along Marina Street in Barangay (village) 4, San Jose, Antique at around 5:30 p.m.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Philippine National Police spokesman, said that it was during negotiations with Fernando that Francisco took hostage 171 other inmates. Francisco was armed with a hand grenade.

Querol said that the San Jose Crisis Management Committee and its Critical Incident Management Task Group led the negotiations.

Fernando and Francisco will be facing a case for illegal possession of firearms and explosives and grave threats. Querol said Fernando will be facing a separate case for murder for the death of Saquibal.

Querol added that 15 supporters of the hostage taker will be under investigation to determine their participation in the incident.