Man shot dead in hostage drama in Pampanga

A man took two young children aboard a Pangasinan-bound passenger bus hostage and attacked a policeman before he was gunned down in Pampanga province Monday afternoon, police and radio reports said. The suspect, initially identified in a police report as one Pedro Brine, stabbed Police Officer 3 Eduardo Santiago, who was forced to fatally shoot him, radio dzBB reported. The report cited initial reports reaching the Philippine National Police indicating that the incident occurred 2:25 p.m. at a bus terminal in Dau in Pampanga. A police report said the hostage-taker held hostage the two children at knife point. It added that Santiago tried to intercede but was stabbed by the suspect. A separate report on dzRH radio said Santiago offered to act as substitute bus driver, but crashed the bus into a truck. The hostage-taker then stabbed Santiago, who drew his firearm and shot him in the head. The police report said Santiago and the two children were brought to a local hospital for treatment. — with Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News