Pa holds 3 kids hostage in Makati; 1 hurt in 10-hour ordeal

A drug-crazed man held hostage his three children, injuring one of them in a 10-hour ordeal early yesterday in Makati City.

According to the Women’s and Children’s Desk of the Makati police, the incident began at 9 p.m. last Sunday and ended at around 7:30 a.m. the following day.

The suspect, who was identified as Rigoberto Melo Manalang, 37, a resident of Lot 6, Block 317 Mockingbird street, Barangay Rizal, Makati City, was allegedly high on shabu when he seized his three children Sunday night.

Manalang’s wife Maria Angeliza, 27, told the police that she initially ignored her husband’s actions when he took the three children to his side at the family’s living room.

However, after several hours she noticed that her husband was acting very strange and was carrying a kitchen knife and had in his waist a butcher’s knife.

The suspect was awake the entire night, fighting off "unseen assailants" who were supposedly with him inside the living room.

Manalang used his children Irish Kate, 4; Dianne Erika,5 ; and Rigo 6 as shields against his "assailants" while constantly telling them to back off.

The wife said her husband used one child after another as a human shield.

Several hours later, the situation became serious when Manalang pulled out two knives and started using them on the children.

The suspect struck Dianne on the head with the butcher’s knife then grabbed Rigo.

At this point, the wife called the police for assistance.

By the time the Special Weapons and Tactics team of the Makati police arrived, Manalang had already stabbed Irish Kate in her right arm, thigh and abdomen.

As members of the SWAT team positioned themselves outside the house, the husband momentarily put down his guard, which provided an opportunity for his wife to make a move.

She lunged at her husband and grabbed the two knives which he had been using on their children.

The SWAT team then barged in and took down the suspect, rescuing the mother and her three children.

The wife sustained a cut on her right finger while the youngest daughter was brought to Ospital ng Makati for treatment.

Manalang is now under the custody of the Makati police and charges of serious illegal detention and attempted homicide are being prepared against him. – Marvin Sy