The patience of policemen paid off when they successfully rescued a 14-year-old girl who was taken as a hostage by a mentally-ill person, in Brgy. Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental, after almost six hours of negotiations on Tuesday.

Senior Inspector Louie Figueroa, Cauayan police chief, yesterday said Kristel Linas,14, was held hostage at knife-point and hogtied by Jovannie Chua, who is suffering from a nervous breakdown.

Chua chased Linas along the seashore of Purok 2 in Brgy. Caliling, Cauayan, and brought her to his house in the same village, a police investigation report said.

Caliling barangay officials and tanods negotiated for the release of the minor who was reportedly manhandled by the suspect for more than one hour, Figueroa said.

However, the barangay officials gave up and requested the assistance of the Cauayan police when the suspect who was armed with two bolos and a jungle knife, became hostile, Figueroa added.

Figueroa said they started negotiating for the release of the minor at noon and ended at about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, when they subdued the suspect.

Linas whose hands and feet were tied with electrical cords, may have been subjected to manhandling as indicated by signs of injuries in the different parts of her body, a police report said.

The minor was immediately brought to the Isio District Hospital while Chua is now detained at the Cauayan Police Station jail.

Chua witnessed the brutal killing of his father 11 years ago, which may have traumatized the suspect who occasionally suffers from nervous breakdown, Figueroa said.

Two bolos and a jungle knife were recovered by the Cauayan police from Chua.*GPB

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