Authorities reported that a hostage-taking situation occurred at the RB Printing shop at the corner of CM Recto Avenue and Rizal Avenue at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, causing heavy traffic.

The Manila Police District (MPD) disclosed that a financially distressed man, identified only as “Bok-jo,” threatened to kill two female hostages unless he received money. He held knives to both of their throats.

Workers at the printing shop immediately called the barangay, who then alerted the police in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

Members of the MPD-PS 3 responded, and P/Col. John Guiagui, the most senior officer and an early responder, began to talk to the hostage-taker. The suspect demanded P20,000 as a condition for not harming the two victims.

“I talked to him (the hostage-taker), and he seemed to recognize me because I am a former station commander of PS 3. I gained his trust, during which he asked me for money. He didn’t initially specify an amount, but I offered P20,000, to which he agreed. He promised that he would not be harmed by the police until the situation was resolved,” Guiagui said.