10-hour mall hostage drama ends with gunman’s arrest

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2020 04:26:00 +0000

POLICE arrest hostage-taker Archie Paray, a former security guard, after he agreed to come out and release his hostages he held for 10 hours at V-Mall in Greenhills, San Juan City last March 2. (Alvin Kasiban)

By JHON ALDRIN CASINAS

The 10-hour hostage-taking at V-Mall in Greenhills shopping complex in San Juan City ended with the arrest of the gunman and the safe release of all hostages late Monday night.

Hostage-taker Archie Paray, a former security guard, came out of the mall after long hours of negotiations.

Prior to his arrest, high-ranking security officials of the shopping center and its hired security agency apologized to him.

On Monday noon, Paray held hostage around 30 employees and shot another security guard, identified as Ronald Velita, at V-Mall, authorities said.

Velita was rushed to nearby Cardinal Santos Medical Center for treatment and was said to be in stable condition.

Paray alleged that the “corruption” in the shopping center urged prompted him to stage the hostage-taking.

The alleged “corruption” has been denied by the high-ranking officials of Greenhills Mall and its hired security agency, SASCOR, during a press briefing.
Paray alleged that his superiors receive a P5,000 bribe money from tenants.

He also asked San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora about his fate after his surrender.
“Pagkatapos nito mayor, saan ang pupuntahan ko, sa presinto o sa sementeryo?,” Paray asked Zamor
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