Laguna hostage-taker wants to talk to wife - police

MANILA, Philippines – The man who is holding a female employee hostage inside a fast-food establishment in Biñan town in Laguna province demanded from negotiators that he talk to his wife, police said Thursday. In an interview on dzBB radio, Biñan police head Superintendent Joel Permito said he has already ordered that the man’s wife be fetched. "Gusto makausap yung wife so pinapasundo na namin yung wife [He wanted to talk to his wife so we are now fetching her]." Radio dzBB's Manny Vargas said authorities identified the hostage-taker as one Aba Suwaha or Aba Waha alias Anthony Navarro. Permito also assured that authorities are doing everything to secure the release of the female employee identified only as "Maricar," who is reportedly pregnant. As of 9 a.m., the hostage-taking is ongoing. Authorities have tapped local Muslim leaders to help in the negotiations. Earlier in the day, Laguna provincial police head Senior Superintendent Manolito Labador said that about 6:30 a.m., the man first took a security guard’s .38-caliber revolver. Labador said the man fired the gun four times and the guard was hit on his side and on his foot. "Dinala na sa ospital pero wala naman sa kritikal na kondisyon [He was rushed to the hospital but he was not in critical condition]." Labador said the man then barged barged inside the fast-food establishment and took the female employee. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV