Man takes daughter hostage

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – Authorities rescued a six-year-old girl from her father who allegedly held her hostage for five hours in Bamban, Tarlac over the weekend.

The suspect, Christian dela Cruz, 39, was treated for a mental illness at a hospital in Mariveles, Bataan last year, said Tarlac police director Senior Superintendent Alex Sintin.

Dela Cruz seized his daughter at knifepoint at around 9 a.m. in the family’s home in Barangay San Nicolas, he said.

Dela Cruz asked for a gun when the police officers tried to convince him to release his daughter, according to Sintin.

One of the officers gave an empty gun to the suspect, who immediately tried to shoot himself. This gave the officers an opportunity to grab the girl from the suspect.