Man takes 2 families hostage

MANILA, Philippines - A family who welcomed a friend and prepared a meal for him in their house in Quezon City was taken hostage along with their neighbors Sunday night after one of the victims refused to lend him P2,000.

Security guard Benjamin dela Cruz, 58, is facing four counts of serious illegal detention charges after taking two families hostage before 7 p.m. in Barangay Talipapa, said Quezon City Police District Station 5 commander Superintendent Michael Macapagal.

Macapagal said the suspect, who was earlier declared absent without leave from his job, will also face charges of frustrated homicide, attempted rape, illegal possession of firearms, and violation of anti-violence against women and their children law.

The suspect allegedly shot another victim who escaped from his attempt to rape her.

According to Macapagal, the suspect went to the house of his friend, Francisco Cadaing, to borrow P2,000 because he wanted to go back to Cabanatuan.

The police officer said the suspect made the request to Cadaing while his wife, Josefina, was preparing a meal for him. Dela Cruz allegedly got angry after Francisco told him that he does not have money.

Dela Cruz drew his gun and pointed it at the couple. The suspect then herded the two and their 14-year-old son, Francis Daniel, to their room.

Dela Cruz declared that since his life had no use anymore, he would kill himself but will take the entire Cadaing family with him, Macapagal said.

After he ordered Josefina to tie up her husband and son, Dela Cruz allegedly told the woman that he would rape her first before he would kill them.

Macapagal said Francisco and his son managed to untie themselves and run out of their home to seek help. Josefina, meanwhile, managed to convince the suspect to let her go.

Second try

After the escape of the Cadaing family, Macapagal said the suspect got out of the house and headed to the residence of Janette Manalo, 35.

The police officer said Dela Cruz then rounded up Manalo and her relatives into her room, where the suspect told her that he wanted to rape her. Manalo was with three children and an elderly woman at the time of the incident.

Manalo, in a bid to escape from the suspect, allegedly told Dela Cruz not to rape her in front of the children and asked that they do it inside the bathroom, Macapagal said.

Once inside the bathroom, Manalo was able to run out but was shot by the suspect in her right arm. Responding policemen rushed her to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Macapagal said when his men arrived, no light was switched on in Manalo’s home and no one was responding to their calls. After some time, the suspect started to talk to the lawmen, who learned the suspect was holding four persons hostage.

After an hour of negotiating, the suspect surrendered without making any demands, Macapagal said.

A .38 caliber Armscor revolver with five bullets was seized from the suspect, who admitted he was drunk when he paid his friends a visit, Macapagal said.