Hostage taker finally held by cops after 8 hours

MANILA, Philippines- After nearly eight hours of negotiation, a hostage taker in Quezon City was apprehended by the police on Friday afternoon.

Senior Inspector Maricar Taqueban, Public Information, Officer of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said Melvin Medina did not want to surrender to the police even after his request that he wanted to see his relatives from Laguna was granted.

Taqueban said police then decided to enter the house where the suspect held hostage his victims and successfully arrested him.

No one was hurt during the incident, she said.

The police official said Medina is now under the custody of the Police Station 3 in Quezon City.

On Friday morning, Medina held hostage two of his relatives inside their house in Baesa, Quezon City.

Medina, who was armed with a bladed weapon held hostage around 9 a.m. his two relatives identified as Doroteo Gerubin and Marvin Caag inside their houses at Maxima Street in Villa Matilde Subdivision.