Phone call ends RP hostage drama

Phone call ends RP hostage drama

MANILA (UPI): A long-distance telephone call from Japan
yesterday ended a 12-hour hostage drama staged by a love-struck
man who took two people hostage after his girlfriend refused to
answer his overseas telephone calls.

A telephone conversation between Jose Quinto, 37, and his
girlfriend, 20-year-old Myra Fajardo, was aired nationwide by
Manila radio station DZMM early yesterday.

"Papa, please stop it, have pity on them," Fajardo, who works
in Japan, is heard pleading to Quinto, who had taken Fajardo's
sister Olivia and Lailani Aquino hostage in the Manila suburb of
Kalookan.

"I love you, I hope you understand me," Fajardo sobbed.
Quinto surrendered to authorities after hearing the words of his
girlfriend. The hostage drama began around 6:00 p.m. local time
Tuesday when Quinto, armed with a knife and grenade, barged into
the Fajardos' residence and took two people hostage after failing
to contact his girlfriend.

Tension gripped the neighborhood as police and local officials
tried to persuade the love-struck man to release his hostages.
Quinto threatened to explode the grenade unless he was allowed to
talk to his girlfriend.