Tension grips Valenzuela city hall over hostage-taking incident

MANILA, Philippines - Tension gripped Valenzuela City Hall employees Monday afternoon after a still unidentified suspect took a hostage inside one of the city hall's buildings. In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Valenzuela police’s Virginia Peralta said the hostage-taking started about 3:30 p.m. at the city hall’s Finance Building. Peralta said the hostage-takers remains unidentified even as authorities have responded to the scene. Peralta added that a certain Atty. Marquez is negotiating with the hostage-taker. Meanwhile, a report over dzBB radio said a government employee is being held, adding that negotiations are underway as of posting time. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV