Tanod injured, 3 released in Molo hostage standoff
A village watchman was shot by a man suffering from mental problem who held his own relatives hostage Tuesday night in Brgy. Habog-Habog, Molo, Iloilo City.
Police identified the victim as Jun Tongonon, a tanod member of Brgy. Boulevard, Molo, who is being treated at Western Visayas Medical Center.
Suspect Winston Sorre, 29, of Brgy. Taytay, Jaro shot him while he was negotiating for the hostages’ release along with other tanod members.
Insp. Reuben Siason of Molo Police Station said that Sorre, who was drunk, went inside the house of his relative Celia Guevarra, took his caliber .38 revolver, and held her hostage, along with Mary Ann Guevarra and Shella Mae Alvarez.
After Sorre shot Tongonon, Mary Ann and Shella Mae were able to escape.
Personnel of the Iloilo City Police Office then took over and negotiated with Sorre for about an hour before he released Celia.
Celia escaped through a window while Sorre was talking with the policemen.
It took the policemen two more hours to convince Sorre to surrender with his firearm.
Siason said Sorre will be charged for possession of unlicensed gun, assault upon an agent in authority, and frustrated homicide.
Sorre, now detained at the Molo Police Station, told the police he was angry at his wife that he thought of holding his relatives hostage.
Before the incident, Sorre and his wife had a misunderstanding then he went to his relatives in Habog-Habog.*JPR
