Drug-crazed man takes baby hostage

MANILA, Philippines - An alleged drug-crazed man was arrested for taking his two-month-old baby boy hostage inside a motel in Caloocan City Saturday night.

Romeo Arranguez, 26, reportedly snatched the infant after quarreling with his partner, Analyn Valencia, in their home in Barangay 173, Bagong Barrio at past 8:30 p.m., city police chief Senior Superintendent Bartolome Bustamante told The STAR.

Police said the couple was having an argument over the suspect’s vices.

Bustamante said Arranguez texted Valencia shortly before midnight, saying he was staying at the Clover Inn in Bagong Barrio.

The suspect told his partner to go to the motel alone if she wanted to see her baby.

Valencia then sought the assistance of the police, who tried to convince Arranguez to surrender.

Bustamante said the suspect threatened to kill the baby if police officers entered the room.

After more than an hour of negotiation, operatives of the Caloocan police barged into the room and arrested the suspect.

A case of serious illegal detention will be filed against Arranguez, who is being held at the Caloocan police detention cell.

Bustamante said the suspect was high on drugs when he took his baby hostage.