CABANATUAN CITY – Police rescued two girls aged four and five held hostage by their estranged, drug-crazed father in Jaen, Nueva Ecija Tuesday.
Senior Superintendent Agripino Javier, provincial police director, said 29-year-old Sherwin Canleon held his two daughters – Maika, five, and Margaret, four – hostage at gunpoint in the house of his former wife, Myra, in Barangay Putlod, Jaen town.
Police said the Canleon couple earlier had separated.
Javier said lawmen led by Chief Inspector Manuel Sevilla negotiated the release of the children.
While the negotiations were going on, PO2s Edgar de Guzman and Mer Santiago managed to gain entry into the house through the back door. Once inside, they pounced on and disarmed Canleon.
Javier said the children were rescued unharmed. But had their rescue been delayed, they could have been hurt since their father was clearly under the influence of illegal drugs.
Police have filed charges of grave coercion against Canleon.