Man holds grandson hostage in Navotas

MANILA, Philippines - A man held his seven-year-old grandson hostage in Navotas City Wednesday afternoon.

Alejandro de Antonio, 55, was arrested after two hours of negotiating with police officers and Mayor John Rey Tiangco.

Investigators said De Antonio, brandishing a knife, suddenly grabbed his grandson at around 4 p.m. while they were at the second floor of their house.

Their relatives sought the assistance of police officers. Tiangco, hearing of the hostage-taking, went to the area and tried to convince to let go of the boy. 

De Antonio said he wanted to talk to his daughter, Jenny, the mother of the boy. Jenny was outside the house when her father took his grandson hostage.

While the two were talking, several policemen managed to sneak onto the second floor and rescue the boy.

Relatives told police that De Antonio was a former patient of the National Center for Mental Health. Investigators are trying to determine what prompted De Antonio to take his grandson hostage.