Digos City, Davao del Sur – October 20, 2024 – A five-year-old girl and a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officer were injured in a hostage-taking incident that unfolded inside the Digos City District Jail’s male dormitory. A second child, aged 10, was unharmed in the ordeal, which occurred just after 1:00 PM on Sunday.
The hostage-takers, identified by their aliases—John, facing murder charges; Sho, charged with frustrated murder; and Boy, facing homicide charges—took two children hostage using improvised weapons. Both children were visiting their father, an inmate at the jail.
Atty. JSupt. Len John Bernal, the jail’s warden, clarified in an afternoon media briefing that contrary to earlier reports, the two young victims were the daughters, not nieces, of the inmate. The three inmates seized the children and held them captive, demanding to be transported to a barangay in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur.
Negotiations between the inmates and jail authorities lasted over an hour, during which the suspects made their demands. However, the situation escalated and turned violent, forcing joint forces from the BJMP, SWAT, and Philippine National Police (PNP) to intervene. The swift operation successfully neutralized the hostage-takers and rescued the children.
The BJMP officer who was first on the scene suffered injuries during the initial confrontation with the inmates. The five-year-old child, who was also injured, was quickly taken to the hospital, where her condition has since been stabilized. The nature of her injury has not yet been disclosed.
The 10-year-old child emerged from the incident unharmed, while the three hostage-takers were subdued and examined by medical personnel. Allegations have surfaced that the suspects displayed signs of bruising, which is now under investigation. Authorities have confirmed that criminal charges will follow against the three inmates involved.
The incident has left the local community shaken, but authorities assured that the situation is now fully under control. Investigations are ongoing to determine how the inmates were able to take the children hostage and what further security measures may be needed to prevent such incidents in the future.
As of now, authorities continue to monitor the condition of the injured child and officer while ensuring the safety of the jail facility. Further updates will be provided as more details emerge.
