NAGA City -- A farmer who took hostage a public school teacher and eight elementary pupils inside the Caranan, South Elementary School in Pasacao, Camarines Sur last weekend, has been charged with eight counts of serious illegal detention and violation of RA 7612 before the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office here, the Police provincial office reported on Monday.

It was reported that Romeo Hebrio Praxido, 30, an agricultural worker, of Sitio Poocan, Macad, Pasacao, was charged for taking hostage for five hours Maria Cecilla Romero Regnim, 40, class adviser, and pupils Lester Atacador, 11, Mico Balcera, 11, Janmark Regnim, 12, Kent Heggel Abistro, 11, Shria Fe Celia, 15, Marvin Onda, 11, Danica Mazarate, 11, and Kimberly Benitez, 10, all Grade 5 pupils.

CamSur police director Senior Supt. Procopio Lipana immediately formed a crisis management committee and dispatched Supt. Jerry Bearis and Senior Insp. Rizaldy Recierdo of the Pamplona Police Station supported by a SWAT team to respond to the hostage drama.       Sonny Sales