A tense hostage-taking incident unfolded inside the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) compound in Davao del Sur on Sunday noon, leaving eight individuals injured, including four jail officers, three inmates, and a six-year-old girl.
The situation began when two minors, aged six and 10, visited the jail to celebrate a relative’s birthday. The visit took a dangerous turn when three inmates, identified only as Elly, Bert, and Dan, took the children hostage inside a vehicle within the jail premises.
Armed with improvised bladed weapons, the inmates threatened to harm the minors unless their demands were met.
BJMP officers swiftly alerted authorities, and the Special Tactics and Response (STAR) team was deployed to handle the crisis.
Governor Yvonne Cagas also arrived at the scene to assist in the negotiations. After two hours, the suspects were subdued and apprehended following a brief scuffle with STAR personnel.
All victims, including the jail officers and inmates, were treated for injuries at the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital.
The six-year-old girl, who sustained serious neck injuries, is still undergoing treatment at the Southern Philippines Medical Center. The other minor was discharged after treatment.
Initial investigations revealed that the inmates, detained for serious offenses, acted out of jealousy. They reportedly felt neglected as their own families had not visited them for some time.
In response, the BJMP temporarily suspended visitation privileges and launched an operation to confiscate and dispose of all improvised weapons to prevent similar incidents in the future.
