Cops rescue baby held as collateral

Police rescued yesterday a nine-month-old baby boy reportedly held hostage along with his two siblings in a house at the Islamic Center in San Miguel, Manila.

Modesto Coran, 33, sought police assistance to rescue his baby and two older children, who were being held hostage by unidentified persons. He said his wife told him the hostage takers were demanding P10,000 for the release of the children. He said he reported the matter to the police when the suspects asked for more money after he gave the P10,000.

A team of police officers, led by Sta. Mesa police station chief Superintendent Jimmy Tiu, coordinated with barangay chairwoman Norhain Lucman and rescued the baby boy from Hadji Munera Manca, 74, who told the police that Coran’s wife left the baby with her.

She said Coran’s wife left in a hurry with her two children in tow, but promised to return.

Tiu said there was no hostage-taking, and the P10,000 was to pay the debt incurred by Coran’s wife.

“It could be that the mother faked the kidnapping incident to get money from her husband,” Tiu said.

Police, however, continued the search for the mother and her two children.