2 hostage incidents reported in QC

MANILA, Philippines - Two hostage-taking incidents happened in Quezon City yesterday, one of which involved a man wanted for homicide and trying to evade policemen sent to arrest him.

Andrew Pabustan used a knife in taking a pregnant woman and her son hostage in Barangay Alicia at past 3 p.m.

Superintendent Pedro Sanchez, commander of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Station 2, said policemen went to the area to serve an arrest warrant for homicide on Pabustan.

Pabustan had been identified in another murder case in another barangay, he added.

“When he saw our police, he immediately ran off. When he saw another police team, he went to the victims’ house, whose door was open at that time,” Sanchez said in an interview.

Pabustan barged into the house and took Gina Sason and her 12-year-old son, Nate Aldrin, hostage.

Policemen cordoned off the area. Pabustan surrendered about an hour later.

Earlier in Barangay Baesa, Melvin Medina took his uncle and cousin hostage for nine hours.

Superintendent Ariel Capocao, commander of the QCPD Station3, said the hostage-taking started at past 7 a.m. when the suspect claimed somebody was out to kill him.

He locked himself in a room with his uncle Doroteo Querubin and cousin Marvin Caag, threatening them with a knife. He reportedly was also hurting himself with the same weapon while holding his relatives hostage.

Capocao said the suspect had been drinking with friends the night before.

The suspect asked for a relative from Laguna, who arrived in the afternoon.

At around 4 p.m., policemen from the Special Weapons and Tactics team forced their way into the house when there were signs that Medina was about to hurt his victims, Capocao said.