Mayor wants more hostage crisis training for policemen

A town mayor is urging policemen in Cebu province to undergo retraining so they could handle hostage situations better.

Dumajug Mayor Nelson Garcia said the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Cebu Chapter will craft a resolution asking Cebu police chief Patrocinio Comendador Jr. to conduct retraining that will enhance the policemen’s skills in handling hostage-takers.

Garcia said the matter will be discussed when town mayors meet on Sept. 8.

Garcia is the president of the LMP-Cebu Chapter.

Garcia’s call came after a man held hostage a woman inside the Dumanjug police precinct last Aug. 28.

The crisis ended when Senior Insp. Rolly Lauron, chief of the Dumanjug police, shot Thadeo Camatso, 26, in the hip.

According to the investigation Camatso was brought to the precinct after he climbed on the roof of the house of Evelyn Rosal, a former Dumanjug town councilor.

Police released Camatso when Rosal didn’t file any complaint against him.

Camatso refused to go home saying he feared for his life.

A few minutes later, he entered the police precinct and suddenly smashed the jalousie blades of the window.

Camatso barged into Lauron’s office where Helen Recuerdo was at that time.

Camatso took a .45 pistol from the top of an office table, which he used to hold the woman hostage.

Lauron was able to barge into the office and shoot Camatso in the hip, ending the hostage situation.

Garcia said Lauron handled the hostage crisis poorly.

“Why does he have to exchange the cell phone with an armalite? That’s a big no no in a hostage situation–trying to aggravate the hostage taker,” he said in a media interview at the Capitol on Friday.

“He gave a magazine full of live ammunition. He was not in his right state of mind. He was emotional,” Garcia said.

Garcia said the hostage-taking would have been avoided if there was no woman inside the police precinct.

“Uncomfortable time na ang 9:30 p.m. Why there was a woman in his office? There should be an investigation,” he said.

Garcia also asked Comendador to implement a strict mandate on allowing visitors of police chiefs to stay inside the office.

“Based on my own investigation, it was not the first time that a woman slept inside his office. Its a common occurrence. They even made a room inside the police office,” he said.

Garcia said he couldn’t help but suspect the real relationship of Recuerdo and Lauron.

Garcia recalled that during Lauron’s courtesy call when he assumed the post as police chief, he was told by the police officials he was married.

Garcia said after the hostage-taking, Lauron is claiming that he is single.

Garcia said Lauron’s replacement is expected to assume the post on Monday.