“Fr. Valmoria says Ruedas went to him for help, gave up after being prayed over”
By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
“THERE was no hostage taking.”
Naawan, Misamis Oriental Roman Catholic priest Roniedon Valmoria on Thursday claimed he was not held hostage by choir member Loverton Ruedas contrary to claims made by the police.
The town’s police chief, Senior Insp. Jay Francis Estigoy, said Ruedas barged into the convent in Naawan, seized Fr. Valmoria and held him there for over two hours.
Over Magnum Radio, Fr. Valmoria said Ruedas, who was armed with a caliber .45 pistol, came to him for help, and that he prayed over the suspect before he yielded to authorities.
“Pagsaka niya sa ta-as sa akong convento, ingon siya sa ako, ‘Padre, tabangi ko kay gilakag ko sa pulis,’” said Valmoria.
Ruedas, a resident of Patag in Naawan town, serves as a member of Valmoria’s church choir.
Valmoria said he and Ruedas talked and he convinced him to surrender to the police.
“Misugot man pud siya, mao tong akong gikuha ang iyang pusil, ug gisulod sa among collection box sa simbahan, ug akong gi-turnover sa police,” Valmoria said.
He denied that Ruedas restricted his movement while they talked about how the “crisis” started.
Valmoria said Ruedas told him that he went to the Naawan police station just to inquire about his cousins who were subjected to the police’s “Oplan Tokhang” campaign.
He said one thing led to another and soon, Ruedas and police officers exchanged in a shootout.
Outnumbered, he said, Ruedas sought refuge in the convent and sought his help.
“Ako lang pud siya nga gipasulod sa among computer room ug gipalingkod aron dili pud siya mapusilan sa pulis,” Valmoria said.
He said he prayed over Ruedas inside the computer room shortly before Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano came to form a crisis management committee.
He said Ruedas decided to surrender to Senior Insp. Dexter Ceniza of the Iligan police after he was prayed over.
Ceniza and Ruedas are good friends, according to the police.
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