LEGAZPI CITY –- A 34-year old man armed with a fragmentation grenade held his 48-year old businesswomen live-in partner hostage for almost ten hours before he was shot dead by a policeman sniper at Quezon St., Brgy. Nursery, Masbate City, a police report reaching Camp Gen. Simeon Ola said.

        Senior Supt. Saadra Gani, Masbate police director, identified the hostage-taker as Roderick Flores,34, alias Pyke of Brgy. Malinta, Masbate City and his live-in partner as Nora Verano, 48, a businesswomen.

        Gani said Flores had already removed the pin of his grenade when he held his live-in partner hostage at 7:30 a.m. Friday.

        Police probers have not yet determined the motive for the hostage-taking but they suspected that Flores was high on drugs.

        The police decided to neutralize Flores when negotiations for his surrender failed.

        The hostage drama ended at 4:45 p.m. when Gani sent a police sniper to shoot and neutralize the hostage-taker.

        When the police sharpshooter shot the right arm of the hostage-taker, the grenade exploded causing his right arm to be cut off and injuries in the different parts of his body.

        Flores was taken to the Masbate Provincial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

        The hostage victim was declared safe and sound after the hostage drama, police said.