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Hostage-taker’s ‘presscon’ was part of negotiation, says Zamora


The apparent media conference of the hostage-taker in San Juan City on Monday night was part of the deal he struck with negotiators in exchange for the safety and release of his 30 hostages, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora said.

Interviewed on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, Zamora explained that the hostage-taker, dismissed security guard Archie Paray, had been demanding to speak to the media to air his grievances.

“Ramdam niya, sa paraan lamang ng pagsasalita sa media niya mailalabas ang hinaing niya, ang sama ng loob niya na siyang naging dahilan kung bakit niya ginawa ang hostage-taking na ito,” he said. "Almost 11 hours itong hostage crisis natin so you can just imagine what he was thinking already, so hindi mo na rin talaga alam 'yung mental state niya."

Zamora said they were aware that the hostage-taker was armed but stressed that they were “ready” for any outcome.

Paray told the media about alleged corrupt activities within his agency and complained about the grievances he aired to management that fell on deaf ears.

The ordeal ended when Paray was subdued by authorities shortly after his press conference.

“Bahagi ng usapan natin dito ang makalabas siya nang ligtas, at tinupad ko po ang pangako ko sa kaniya at tinupad naman niya ang pangako niyang ilabas ang mga hostages,” the mayor said.

Zamora added that the local government will intervene in the issue between the hostage-taker and the mall management as it has become “a matter of the security of [San Juan] city.”

The mayor said Paray is now under the custody of San Juan City police.

"[Itong] desisyon namin na hayaan siyang bumaba at magsalita, kita niyo naman, naging tama ang desisyon namin sapagkat walang namatay. Hindi siya nagpaputok, hindi siya nagpasabog ng granada," he said. —Julia Marie Ornedo/LDF, GMA News

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