FRUSTRATION OVER LONG JUDICIAL PROCESS

ONE sunny morning of Saturday, April 22, the quiet, laid-back town of Mangatarem was shaken by a hostage-taking crisis in a dental clinic located at the municipal proper.

Police reports said 46-year-old Gerardo Paquiz, a school security guard, entered Umisem Dental Clinic in Barangay Calvo complained of severe tooth ache, prompting the victim, 44-year-old Dr. Kimberly Ragudo to prioritize him over other patients.

It was then that Paquiz grabbed the dentist, and held her at knifepoint. He took her hostage for twenty minutes.

P/Major Arturo Melchor Jr., Mangatarem chief of police, rushed to the hostage scene, and sought to negotiate with the suspect.

The police, seeing an opportunity to neutralize Paquiz when he raised his arm, immediately took him down and disarmed him, ending the hostage-taking crisis.

Paquiz has been arrested and charged with frustrated murder, with no bail granted for his temporary liberty.

But what drove this security guard to take the dentist hostage?

Melchor, in an interview, said Paquiz’s minor daughter was allegedly raped by the dentist’s  brother.

It was his impatience over the long legal process that drove him to commit the crime.

“Nagsampa sila ng kaso, pero may isang taon na ang nakalilipas, hindi pa rin natatapos”, Melchor said.

P/Colonel Jeff Fanged, provincial director of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office, assured Paquiz that they will continue to monitor the case. (Ahikam Pasion)

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