Korean takes baby hostage

MANILA, Philippines - A Korean was arrested early yesterday morning after allegedly hurting his Filipino wife and taking their baby boy hostage for 13 hours in Fairview, Quezon City.

Man Kwon Lee, 42, was nabbed by the police after he fell asleep following the hostage-taking that started at 3 p.m. Monday and ended at 4 a.m. yesterday, according to Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 5 commander Superintendent Dennis de Leon.

“He became exhausted. We believe he was under the influence of drugs,” De Leon said in an interview.

Police said the one-month-old infant was unharmed in the incident.

But his mother, Diana Ross Young, suffered bruises from the beating she allegedly took from her Korean husband at their house on Dahlia street, Barangay West Fairview.

She went to the police station at around 10 p.m. Sunday to file a complaint against her husband and did not return home.

The following day, she went to the QCPD headquarters at Camp Karingal to seek help to get her child back, said QCPD director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano. 

Upon seeing her wife accompanied by policemen, the suspect held the baby hostage and threatened to kill him.

The suspect agreed to throw away the knife he was holding if his wife would enter the house. But when Diana still refused to get inside, he threatened to drop the baby from the second floor of the house.

Policemen decided to wait it out for the allegedly drugged suspect to become exhausted. 

“People under the influence of drugs eventually get weary and when they fall asleep, it would be difficult to wake them up,” De Leon said. 

At around 4 a.m. yesterday, the suspect fell asleep, allowing policemen to go inside the apartment unit and rescue the baby.

He will be charged with violation of the Women and Children’s Act, police said.

Wanted for drug trafficking

Following the Korean’s arrest, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) informed the QCPD that the suspect is wanted for drug trafficking in South Korea and the United States.

According to PDEA director general Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr., Man Kwon is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Supreme Prosecutor Office of the Republic of Korea.

“Please be informed that the Korean fugitive has a standing warrant of arrest for trafficking illegal drugs in Korea and US, with an Interpol Orange Notice,” Cacdac said in his letter to Albano.

Cacdac requested the QCPD chief to turnover the suspect to the PDEA.

“We request (the) turnover of custody of the Korean fugitive to PDEA Regional Office NCR after complete documentation and investigation by your office,” Cacdac said.

PDEA spokesperson Derrick Arnold Carreon said the Korean police attaché in Manila would coordinate with the QCPD.