Prisoner takes hostage 3 inmates in Pampanga jail; negotiations ongoing

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines – An inmate at the Pampanga provincial jail ran amuck early Friday, taking hostage three detainees, one of whom he stabbed and wounded.

At past 11 a.m., the inmate, identified only as Toto, a native of Iloilo, still held fellow prisoner Bernardo Narciso.

Toto was armed with a kitchen knife but jail officials could not say how and where he got it.

Jail warden Edwin Mangliman said Toto first took a fellow inmate at Cell No. 8 hostage at 1 a.m. and stabbed him. The wounded inmate, whom Mangliman did not identify, was taken to a hospital here.

Several minutes later, Toto took two prisoners hostage but one of them escaped, leaving Narciso behind.

Mangliman continued to negotiate with the suspect, who has been isolated in a section of the cell with Narciso. The cell holds more than 50 inmates.

Mangliman said the suspect, who is awaiting preliminary investigation, for a murder case, had not aired any demand as of 11 a.m.

Originally posted: 11:58 am | Friday, November 4th, 2011