Two people, including the hostage-taker, were killed during a hostage-taking incident in SM Dasmariñas Sunday afternoon.
Former Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla, who was in the area during the incident, identified the hostage-taker as Carlos Marcos Lacdao, 32, from Leyte province.
Remulla said there were initially 12 hostages but nine managed to escape. He addded that two of the hostages suffered stab wounds from Lacdao and one died on the scene while the other one was injured.
Lacdao was able to sneak into the mall a 12-inch knife and took the hostages inside a comfort room at the southern part of the ground floor at around 11 a.m.
"Hinahanap ang asawa at supposed lover ng kanyang asawa. Naka-shades, naka-backpack, very agitated siya. Nagmumura, sumisigaw, hinahanap ang supposed lover ng asawa," the former governor said.
Remulla said that Lacdao's wife was working as a bathroom attendant at the mall but she was not among the people taken hostage by the suspect.
The hostage-taking incident ended at around 2:55 p.m. after the police decided to shoot Lacdao, who received a gunshot wound in the head and neck.
Policement fired at the suspect while he was holding at knifepoint a woman hostage identified as Mylene Balajadia, who was unhurt but was badly shaked due to the incident.
Shops at the mall reopened and people were allowed mall entry at around 5 p.m.
Cora Guidote, SM senior vice-president for investor relations, said that the incident "started as a domestic problem that was brought to the mall."
"The local PNP and our security are working together to manage the situation. All tenant personnel and customers are all safe and away from the area," Guidote said.
Contrary to earlier reports that the hostage-taker was a mall utility worker, Guidote said that Lacdao was not an employee of the mall.
Source: GMA News
Image: SM Dasmariñas Facebook
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