A one-year-old girl taken hostage by her father at knifepoint in Taytay, Rizal last Saturday was safely rescued, police said.
Col. Felipe Maraggun, Rizal Provincial Police Office (PPO) director, and Lt. Col. Marlon Solero, Taytay’s police chief, managed to convince the suspect, alias Vin, 26, of C6 road, Barangay Sta. Ana to turn himself in two hours after taking the baby hostage.
Vin turned over his daughter alias Athena and a karambit knife to police at the site.
“Ang insidente ay dulot ng problemang pampamilya, ngunit nagpapasalamat kami na natapos ito nang walang nasaktan. Napakahalaga ng maagap at maayos na paghawak sa sitwasyon upang mapanatili ang kaligtasan ng lahat,” Maraggun said.
[The incident stemmed from a family problem, but we are thankful that it ended without anyone getting hurt. A quick and orderly handling of the situation is important in ensuring the safety of all.]
The incident occurred around 7 p.m. at the house of the suspect. Vin allegedly physically abused his other daughter, aged 13, and relatives reported it to barangay officials.
The commotion got worse after the suspect used his younger child as a hostage.
Police arrived at the scene as neighbors, relatives and law enforcers reasoned with the man, who eventually surrendered.
Appropriate charges will be filed against the hostage-taker.