Brief hostage-taking goes awry

CEBU CITY: A brief hostage-taking crisis that stemmed from a confrontation in Catmon town of north Cebu resulted in the death of a 30-year-old man last Wednesday evening.

The Catmon Police Station identified the casualty as Arniel Empas Alivio, a resident of Barangay Jubay in Liloan town, also in northern Cebu.

Police reports stated that Alivio was the subject of a hot pursuit operation on Wednesday evening after he was involved in a fight among residents who were playing and viewing a billiards game and took hostage a senior citizen in Purok 1, Sitio Tinibgan in Barangay Panalipan, Catmon.

Based on witnesses’ accounts they gathered, investigators reported Alivio was also under the influence of alcohol.

He fled the scene before the commotion among billiards players and viewers could escalate but returned at 7:30pm wherein witnesses claimed they saw him brandishing a .45 calibre pistol.

Alivio then proceeded to hostage a 67-year-old woman identified as Nerissa Bulane for at least five minutes before escaping another time and allegedly firing at the incoming police, the report added.

Bulane was safe and unharmed.

During the ensuing hot pursuit, Alivio bumped his motorcycle on another motorcycle driven by a certain Emelio Abreu, a resident from neighbouring Sogod town.

Police said Alivio fell off from his motorcycle and lost grip of his pistol after the collision.

But police claimed they later discovered that the suspect was allegedly in possession of another .45 calibre pistol, which he used to fire at the arresting officers, prompting the latter to fire back. 

Alivio was sent to Sogod District Hospital but attending physicians declared him dead on arrival.

Two .45 calibre pistols and ammunition were seized from Alivio.

Catmon is a fourth-class municipality located 58 kilometres north of Cebu City.