Mactan hospital patients used as ‘human shield’ by man high on drugs

Police cannot describe incident as a hostagetaking since suspect Ale Mama, 33, did not make any demands Mama caught on CCTV grabbing the gun of the guard in the hallway Mama allegedly tried to shoot his sister who was taking care of her sick child but the gun failed to go off

A MAN believed to be under the influence of illegal drugs allegedly held hostage some patients in a private hospital in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City yesterday morning.

Ale Mama, 33, used them as a shield so police would not shoot him.

The incident happened past 9 a.m.

Mama hails from Pangarongan in Marawi City, but he currently resides in Pajo.

A closed-circuit television camera inside the hospital caught Mama grabbing the firearm of 28-year-old guard Lesi Angco in the hallway.

Before the commotion, Mama casually walked into the premises and passed by Angco.

He looked uneasy. He then returned to where Angco was sitting and immediately grabbed her gun from her holster.

She tried to stop him, but he ran.

Accidental shooting

Angco called police for assistance.

PO3 Rudy Janagap, investigator of Lapu-Lapu Police Station 3, said Mama went to the second floor and entered the ward where he tried to shot his 26-year-old sister Edalia

Mama Salem.

Salem was taking care of her child, who was confined due to a fever.

“Iyang gipusil iyang igsuon kaso wa nibuto ang

armas (He tried to shot Salem, but the gun did not go off),” Janagap said.

While the suspect ran downstairs, he accidentally pulled the trigger and shot his right hand.

Mama went back up and allegedly threatened the patients and their visitors.

“Gitapok niya ang mga pasyente (He gathered the patients) in one room,” Janagap said.

Three minutes after the incident was reported, a mobile of the Police Station 3 and members of the LapuLapu Special Weapons and Tactics arrived. They tried to convince the suspect to surrender.

Mama threw the 9mm pistol, which had four live ammunition, outside.

Police also seized a fiveinch knife that was tucked in his jeans.

“Mama was believed to be high on drugs. Every time he is high, he harasses his family members,” Janagap said in Cebuano.

Denial

In an interview, Mama said he took Angco’s firearm to intimidate Salem, who no longer wanted him to go home.

He said he never pulled the trigger when he pointed the gun at Salem, adding that he had no intention of shooting her.

“I was going to surrender but I was afraid the police would shoot me. That was why I gathered the patients to serve as my shield,” Mama said in Cebuano.

Mama admitted that he used illegal drugs before the incident happened.

He was detained at the Lapu-Lapu Police Station 3 holding cell.

Janagap said Mama will undergo a drug test.

He will be charged with robbery, attempted murder and with violating Republic Act 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.

Janagap said they cannot say there was a hostagetaking because the suspect did not demand anything.