Batangas mall hostage crisis ends, suspect arrested

A 28-year-old man, identified as Alvin Bayta, held a saleslady hostage for approximately three hours inside a gadget store at a mall in Lipa City, Batangas on Tuesday afternoon.

Bayta entered the store around 4 p.m. and threatened the saleslady, Jeremy Morta, 25, with a bladed weapon, claiming he was being hunted and wanted to clear his name.

During the hostage situation, he demanded to speak with the press and his family.

Lipa City Police Station chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Rix Supremo Villareal was wounded on his right hand while subduing the suspect and confiscating his bladed weapon.

Morta was released after negotiations, while two other employees hid in a storage room, and mall goers documented the incident which went viral.

The suspect was arrested for serious illegal detention and violation of the Omnibus Election Code.