Man surrenders in Albay town family hostage standoff

INQUIRER FILES LEGAZPI CITY — A man who allegedly held members of his family hostage at knifepoint in the Albay town of Libon, surrendered peacefully on Friday after police negotiators ended a tense standoff. Police responded at around 8:30 a.m. after Barangay Captain Susan T. Sambahon reported an ongoing hostage-taking incident in Zone 2, Barangay Along-ong involving suspect Richard Lanza, said Police Col. Noel Nuñez, Albay police chief. The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team was immediately deployed, but the standoff ended peacefully through effective incident management and negotiation, Nuñez said. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Tuguegarao City, 24 towns suspend face-to-face classes due to Kiyapo Brig. Gen. Erosito Miranda, Bicol police chief, told the Inquirer that the suspect was believed to be under the influence of illegal drugs and had allegedly injured one of his children before his wife intervened. “We were fortunate that he surrendered peacefully. I had instructed our personnel to neutralize the suspect at the first indication of a deadly act or assault to ensure the safety of the hostages and responding officers,” Miranda said. The suspect is in police custody while police prepare the appropriate charges against him. INQ /mr Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.