ILOILO CITY – A former drug convict was shot dead by policemen Thursday night after he took three persons hostage inside the compound of the municipal hall of Estancia town, Iloilo, and demanded the release of a detained drug suspect.
Chief Inspector Aron Palomo, Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) spokesperson, said the four-hour hostage drama ended when police snipers killed 30-year-old Romy “Burot” Albor, an ex-convict.
Palomo said Albor was armed with a .45-caliber pistol, a homemade shotgun, and two live grenades when he barged into the compound of Estancia Municipal Hall at about 2:30 p.m., Thursday.
He took three hostages and demanded the release of one John Paul “Jep-Jep” Santos, who was locked up at Estancia Police Station also located within the compound of the municipal hall. Santos was arrested for drug-related charges last June 12.
It was learned that before breaking into the municipal hall compound, Albor also took another hostage from neighboring Balasan town.
Palomo said the police officers on the ground decided to neutralize the suspect for fear that he might use the live grenades. Soon when Albor went out of the municipal hall at about 6 p.m. and tried to transfer to the building for the office for senior citizens, police snipers shot him.
Senior Police Officer 2 Richard Rufino, assigned to Sara Police Station, was wounded during the hostage incident.
(TARA YAP)