BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – A 24-year-old female college dropout in neighboring Santiago City, Isabela, reportedly held hostage on Tuesday a couple who had terminated her father as their family driver.
Chief Inspector Pilarito Mallilin of the Santiago City police said the suspect, Joy Licayan, is now facing charges of grave threat and arson as well for threatening to burn down the house of the Co couple in Barangay Victory Norte.
Reports said Licayan, brandishing a knife, barged into the Co residence and held the couple and their son hostage Tuesday morning.
It took authorities an hour before they were able to convince Licayan to surrender.
Licayan reportedly feared that she could no longer pursue her college degree after the couple fired her father as driver.
Besides the knife, a cord was also found in Licayan’s bag, “indicating that (she) was also seemed bent on committing suicide,” police said.