Drunk takes 5-year-old nephew hostage in Olongapo

OLONGAPO City, Philippines -  A hostage drama ended in a successful rescue of a child after a brief scuffle between a barangay official, a police officer and the hostage-taker early morning Thursday in Barangay Old Cabalan, Olongapo City.

ld Cabalan Councilor Dong Galand  said the victim was taken hostage at  around 9 a.m. in Purok 7 of the said Barangay.

Galang identified the hostage-taker as a certain Ernesto, who was described as  drunk and had been sleepless.

Galang said the suspect took hostage his five-year-old nephew inside the family's compound.

He added that the suspect  wielded a knife.

The hostage-taking ended when Galang and another police officer wrestled the knife from the suspect at around 10:30 a.m.

Galang suffered minor wound to his neck while the police officer which has yet to be  identified sustained knife wounds to his arms.

The suspect according to Galang and Olongapo City Councilor Jong Cortez was depressed after allegedly accused of stealing from his employer.

The suspect is now in police custody.