Injured man takes 10-year-old boy hostage in Butuan City hospital

BUTUAN CITY- An injured man took a 10-year-old boy hostage inside the Butuan City Medical Center on Friday morning, after failing to get medical attention an hour since he was rushed into the hospital for treatment. Senior Inspector Ferdinand Bokingo Dacillo, chief of Butuan City Police Station 3, said policemen arrested farmer Edilberto Rodilla, 41, while his hostage was released unharmed after nearly an hour of negotiations. Initial police investigation revealed that at about 5 a.m., Rodilla was rushed to the hospital for treatment after jumping from a moving bus in Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte. Police said Rodilla had already been awaiting treatment in the hospital for nearly an hour when he grabbed a 10-year-old boy and took the boy hostage. Rodilla allegedly poked a knife at the boy’s leg and threatened to harm the boy if anyone goes near him. This prompted the boy’s relative and hospital personnel to call the police. Negotiations between Rodilla and responding policemen lasted nearly 40 minutes, before Rodilla – who was still injured – decided to release his hostage. In an interview following his arrest, Rodilla told GMAnews.TV that he was being pursued by a group of people who were threatening to harm him. This was the reason why he jumped off the bus before he was rushed to the hospital. Rodilla said that while he was under excruciating pain, no one at the hospital took notice of him to give him medical treatment. He claimed he was only treated after the hostage-taking incident. In a telephone interview, his wife Cecilia said Rodilla is not psychologically unfit, saying her husband was supposed to go to Manila to look for “greener pastures". She also said the last time she talked to her husband, he said he was being sought by his former employer and was being asked for money. “My husband is supposedly going to Manila as he was being sought by his employer.The last time we communicated, he was already riding a passenger jeepney and somebody was asking him for money" Cecilia said. On the other hand, the victim’s aunt said they are not keen on pressing charges against Rodillo, given his condition. “He (Rodilla) was so uneasy when he arrived here at the hospital, it seems that he is afraid of somebody or group of people going after him. I think he needs to be checked psychologically," a boy’s relative said. - Alvin Guanzon, GMANews.TV