The Digos City District Jail in Digos City, Davao del Sur has suspended visitation privileges following a hostage situation that injured several people, including a minor.

According to a report by GMA Super Radyo Davao, three inmates held two children hostage inside the jail’s male dormitory on Sunday, October 20, 2024, and demanded that they be made to go home to Kiblawan town.

The two minors – a 10-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl – were visiting their fathers who are also inmates.

The suspects allegedly aimed an improvised bladed weapon at the children until they reached a vehicle of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

The negotiation lasted for two hours but ended in a scuffle that injured the suspects, the victims, and four BJMP personnel.

The BJMP Tactics and Response Assault Team was able to rescue the victims.

Those hurt sustained minor injuries except for the six-year-old girl who had to be brought to the hospital for a wound in the neck. She is recuperating, as of this writing.

BJMP-11 Spokesperson, Jail Senior Inspector Edo Lobenia, said the suspects are facing kidnapping and murder charges.

(With reports from Jaycel Villacorte, GMA Super Radyo Davao)