An 11-year-old girl who was allegedly held "hostage" by a 32-year-old man on a jeepney was rescued by Bacolod policemen in front of Police Precinct 1 at San Juan Street in Bacolod City at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday.

The girl, whose name is being withheld by the DAILY STAR, boarded a jeepney plying the Mandalagan-Libertad route in front of the Bacolod Cathedral, as Rubeyo Lumugdang Tamagos, 32, of Purok San Miguel, Murcia town, also boarded it, police reports said.

Inside the jeepney, Tamagos poked his 12-inch kitchen knife at the minor hitting her in the hip and threatening to stab her when some of the passengers reacted, police reports said.

Jeepney driver Orlando Ploteña, sensing the commotion, stopped his jeepney in front of the Police Station, police reports said.

Police Officer Roy Badilla, a traffic investigator of the Bacolod Traffic and Management Unit, approached the jeepney and drew his service firearm while trying to negotiate with Tamagos, reports said.

Meanwhile, Police Officer 3 Oscar Exaltado, warrant officer of Police Precinct 1, went to the other side of the jeepney and grabbed the hand of Tamagos who was alleged to be about to stab the minor, police reports said.

Tamagos was later subdued and arrested by Exaltado, Badilla, PO1 Rey Escañan, Traffic enforcer Rodney Gomugda, police reports also said.

Tamagos is now detained in the lock-up cell of Police Precinct 1 for violation of Republic Act 7610 or Child Abuse, City Ordinance 358, or illegal possession of deadly weapon, and threats, police reports added.*DMG

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