DLSU-D students at mall react to SM Dasma hostage-taking incident

DLSU-D students and other mall-goers at SM Dasmariñas were alarmed when a hostage-taking incident occurred earlier this afternoon at SM Dasmariñas.

The incident took place when hostage-taker Carlos Marcos Lacdao armed with a 12-inch knife held 12 people as hostages while looking for his wife and her supposed lover, as per CNN Philippines’ interview with former Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla.

Two were killed, one hostage and the perpetrator, while one hostage was injured during the said incident which occurred from 12:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon and ended at 2:55PM, as confirmed by Remulla.

Shots were fired by the policemen, and Lacdao died after he incurred gunshot wounds in the head and neck.

According to DLSU-D fourth year Broadcast Journalism student Chelsea Montilla who was on the second floor during the incident, “The stabbing and hostage-taking took place by the first floor restroom.”

Montilla said the mall employees were immediately notified to close their stores and stay inside together with the customers until it was safe for them to leave.

She furthered that the police arrived at around 1:36 PM and the Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team followed shortly after.

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Meanwhile, DLSU-D fourth year Communication Arts student Jeianne Eusebio, who was on the third floor during the occurrence, was about to leave the mall with her family when they noticed the commotion.

“Narinig naming [may sumigaw ng] ‘May baril!’ So pinapasok kami ulit no’ng staff ng Juana (clothing store). Nagtago kami sa dressing room kaso walang door ‘yon, so pinapasok kami sa storage room,” Eusebio said.

On the same floor, fourth year Communication Arts student Nicholai Jaafar who was inside the SM Cinema theatre watching a film said, “Biglang may commotion [kaya] nag-fire exit kami.”

On the other hand, third year Communication Arts student Marielle Zagada expressed, “No’ng una, akala namin (mall-goers and her family) false alarm lang. Tapos biglang totoo na pala [na may hostage-taking], so umalis na lang kami agad ng mall … Not really sure, but that experience was the most terrifying by far.”

Operations resumed as normal in SM Dasmariñas at 5PM.

With reports from Anri Ichimura and Fernan Patrick Flores