Soldier seizes bus in Bicol, holds passengers hostage for 4 hours

An Army Corporal armed with an M-16 rifle yesterday seized a Manila- bound bus and held its passengers hostage for about four hours in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur. The incident caused heavy traffic that stretched as long as 20 kilometers.

Capt. Mardjorie Paimela Panesa, Army 9th Infantry Division (9ID) public affairs officer, identified the suspect as Cpl. Rene Prajele of 31IB, 9ID.

Brandishing an M-16 rifled, Prajele boarded the Manila-bound Peñafrancia bus in Sorsogon, said Senior Inspector Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol regional police spokesperson.

When the bus reached Barangay Comadaycaday in Del Gallego town at around 12:30 p.m., the suspect announced he was taking the passengers hostage. Authorities said about 30-45 people were on board the bus.

The Highway Patrol Group (HPG), which was notified about the ongoing hostage, set up a checkpoint on Andaya Highway to block the bus, triggering the heavy traffic.

Upon seeing the roadblock, a television report said the suspect warned he will hurt the passengers if the bus will not be allowed to pass through the checkpoint. The policemen defied the soldier’s warning, blocking the bus and starting the negotiation.

“A crisis management team was created, composed of the Army 902nd Brigade commander Col. Tabuga, PNP Del Gallego chief, and the mayors of Ragay and Del Gallego. A six-year-old niece was also there to help in the negotiation,” said Calubaquib.

The hostage-taking incident ended at around 4:30 p.m. after the suspect was convinced to peacefully surrender to Tabuga. None of the passengers was hurt.

As of press time, Praleje was already under the custody of the Del Gallego police and appropriate charges are being readied against him.

The soldier, who was reportedly pressured by work, will likewise be taken to the Camp Elias Angeles Hospital for assessment.