The planned suicide, however, turned into a hostage situation after church personnel discovered his plan and alerted police.
Valerio Borleo, 25, a helper, tied a nylon cord to the necks of his children, aged 4, and 3, and threatened to strangle them in an attempt to drive off lawmen.
Sta. Cruz police station chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, together with church personnel, negotiated with Borleo to release the children unharmed.
Borleo said he wanted to end his life after his wife Leticia abandoned them four days ago. He also made an appeal to his wife, through the radio, to come back to him.
Policemen managed to divert the attention of the hostage-taker, prompting the lawmen to subdue him and release the children from his grip.
Sapitula said Borleo and his two children entered the San Roque Parish Church along Rizal Avenue in Sta. Cruz to attend the 5 p.m. Mass.
Parish priest Msgr. Jesus Bandojo tried to talk the police into pardoning the hostage-taker, according to Sapitula. Police filed charges of child abuse and alarm and scandal against the suspect.