There's 'tactical reason' behind hostage-taker's presscon —Gamboa

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa on Tuesday defended the authorities' decision to allow Greenhills hostage-taker Alchie Paray to have a press conference Monday night, saying there was "tactical reason" behind it.

"Marami critic kanina bakit siya pinayagan na mag-presscon pa but of course, sinabi ni mayor it is part of the negotiation," Gamboa said in a radio interview Monday night, referring to San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, who responded to the hostage-taking incident.

"But there is a tactical reason why they allowed it," Gamboa added.

Gamboa asked the public, including the critics, to respect the decision.

"I just don't know if I am at liberty to discuss it pero let's respect muna. Ito lang explain kasi andaming kritiko na bakit isang oras na 'yan diyan, bakit pinayagan, etc., he said. "Probably when the right time comes siguro the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office) or the mayor could tell you that."

For Gamboa, the NCRPO properly handled the crisis situation that lasted from morning to evening.

"We have to determine what's the problem first and to be honest the police and military would only just come in as a last resort. Kasi ang talagang pag ganyan ang pinakauna talaga diyan is negotiation," he said.

At past 8 p.m. of Monday, Paray, a former security guard, finally released his at least 30 hostages after hours of negotiation with Zamora and security forces.

Paray was not immediately arrested as authorities let him faced members of the media covering the hostage-taking crisis to air his sentiments about the alleged corruption in their security agency.

According to Zamora, allowing Paray to face the media was part of the deal with the suspect so that he would safely release his hostages, who were mostly employees of V-Mall, a shopping center in Greenhills, San Juan.

Zamora said authorities knew that Paray was still armed when he went out of the building, noting that they were prepared with any kind of situation. —KBK, GMA News