Alleged hostage taker Richard Jopillo was charged Tuesday for illegal possession of firearms before the Negros Occidental Provincial Prosecutor's Office, in connection with the hostage incident in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, on August 24.

Chief Inspector Lino Dalisay, Hinigaran police chief, said yesterday that charges for serious illegal detention will also be filed against Jopillo, a former member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit.

If all the passengers of Vallacar Transit Inc. who are held hostage press charges against Jopillo, Dalisay said 11 counts of serious illegal detention will be filed against him.

Armed with a .38 caliber revolver, Jopillo, 26, held hostage the Ceres Liner bus passengers, including Ralph Lawrence Chua, at a terminal in Brgy. 4, Hinigaran.

Chua took the bold move of subduing and disarming Jopillo, who was later arrested by the Hinigaran police.

For his heroic act, the management of VTI yesterday honored Chua, to whom they also offered employment as a nurse.

Dalisay said they are also planning to give honors to Chua who is a BS Nursing graduate of the University of San Agustin.

Jade Marquez-Seballos, VTI Legal and Media Relations Manager, said the safety of their passengers is their number one concern and that they are happy that no passenger was injured during the incident.

Chua, 24 of Cauayan, said he is thankful that VTI recognized what he has done because, as a male nurse, it is not easy to find a job. He has been a volunteer nurse for almost four years, he said.

His family does not want him to file charges against Jopillo this time because he has an application for a job abroad, Chua said.

Marquez-Seballo said they have doubled their security measures to ensure the safety of their passengers and to prevent a similar incident from happening in the future. * GPB/CGS

back to top