Soldier takes 31 bus passengers hostage; surrenders 4 hours later

A soldier in full battle gear armed with a hand grenade, an M16 rifle, and a caliber .45 gun took a Peñafrancia bus with 31 passengers hostage early afternoon of May 29, 2015. The bus was headed for Cubao.

According to ABS-CBN News, Army Corporal Rene Prajele boarded a Peñafrancia bus with plate number TYZ 380 in Pamplona, Camarines Sur. While the bus was plying the highway portion of Barangay Comadaycaday in Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, Prajele reportedly declared his intentions to hold the bus hostage.

The police has not released the exact reasons why Prajele took the bus passengers hostage. Negotiators and the police arrived at the scene a few minutes later, but it took over four hours before the soldier finally surrendered peacefully.

Stationed at the 31st Infantry Battalion headquarters in Sorsogon, the soldier first asked to be brought to Taguig City where he would surrender at Fort Bonifacio, but negotiators were able to convince him to surrender on site.

At 4:26 PM, Prajele surrendered to the authorities, Camarines Sur Police Provincial Director Senior Supt. Walfredo Pornillos confirmed. He was swiftly brought to the Army’s 9th Infantry Division in Pili, Camarines Sur.

Note: This story is still developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.