1989 Davao hostage crisis

1989 Davao hostage crisis
The hostage takers attempting to leave the prison using the hostages as human shields including Australian missionary, Jacqueline Hamill (center, wearing a striped dress). August 15, 1989.
Location	Davao Metrodiscom Davao City, Philippines
Coordinates	7°3′51.8″N 125°36′38.7″E / 7.064389°N 125.610750°E / 7.064389; 125.610750Coordinates: 7°3′51.8″N 125°36′38.7″E / 7.064389°N 125.610750°E / 7.064389; 125.610750
Date	August 13–15, 1989
Target	Joyful Assembly of God members
Attack type	Hostage crisis
Weapons	M16 rifle M6 rifle knives
Deaths	21 (5 hostages and 16 prisoners)
Perpetrator	Wild Boys of DaPeCol
Motive	Prison transfer Prisoner abuse

On August 13, 1989, 16 inmates at the Davao Metropolitan District Command Center (Davao Metrodiscom), who had previously escaped from the Davao Penal Colony, took hostage 15 members of a Protestant group, the Joyful Assembly of God. The inmates were part of the prison gang called the Wild Boys of DaPeCol, led by Felipe Pugoy and Mohammad Nazir Samparani. The hostage crisis ended with the death of 5 hostages and all 16 inmates.

On April 2, 1989, Felipe Pugoy and his prison gang the "Wild Boys of DaPeCol" staged a hostage taking at the Davao Penal Colony (DaPeCol). Pugoy's group of 14-15 convicts each took a hostage. The group armed with knives overcame the prison guards and escaped with a jeepney. Troops from the Philippine Constabulary along with helicopters intercepted Pugoy's group 120 kilometres (75 mi) from the prison. House Speaker Ramon Mitra and Senator Santanina Rasul were part of the government negotiators. Pugoy's group demanded a plane to Manila to engage in dialogue with then President Corazon Aquino to request a transfer to the National Penitentiary in Muntinlupa due to alleged abuse by DaPeCol prison officials. It was agreed by both parties that the negotiations were to be continued in Davao City.

During negotiations on the night of April 3, the gang reiterated their demand for a plane. Hours later 13 hostage takers released their hostages and peacefully surrendered while Pugoy and the other leader Ricardo Navarro held on to their hostages, two teenage girls. The convicts who surrendered were temporarily held in the Davao City Jail. The final demand of Pugoy was to see his mother which the military reportedly agreed to. The final two hostage takers reportedly surrendered after they were promised a transfer to the National Penitentiary and were detained along with the rest of the convicts. Most of the convicts were eventually transferred to the Davao Metrodiscom. The promise of a transfer to the National Penitentiary was denied due to the hostages filing charges of kidnapping against their former captors.

August 13
4:30 p.m. – Hostage taking begins, hostage takers demand a dialogue with Cong. Mitra and Sen. Rasul
August 14
3:00 p.m – First deadline lapses. The hostage takers extend the deadline to the following day and demand a bus for them to leave the prison.
August 15
10:35 a.m. – The prisoners attempt to leave the prison using the hostages as human shields. Gunshots fired by the prisoners.
3:00 p.m. – Soldiers storm the prison after firing tear gas.