CEBU, Philippines - A five-year-old boy was held hostage by his own father in Barangay Putat, Tuburan, Cebu Thursday afternoon after his mother left them.
It was the child’s mother, Amaro Montehermoso, 60, who sought assistance from the Tuburan Police Station around 2pm last Thursday upon learning of the incident.
The father, Reynante, 32, a construction worker, is said to have a history of mental illness. Police suspect he suffered a nervous breakdown after Amaro left him because of his drinking habit.
Reynante reportedly started drinking evening last Wednesday and even allegedly pointed a knife at his son. The suspect’s mother reportedly chose not to report the incident to the police thinking she could control the suspect.
The next day, SPO3 Carlo Canseko, SPO1 Ramon Montecalyo, SPO1 Roy Guinita, PO2 Bismarck Babiera and Verlena Caña of the Department of Social Welfare and Development personally saw Reynante carrying the child outside his house and pointing a five-inch nail to the child’s armpit.
Canseko told The FREEMAN that Reynante first demanded for liquor, which they immediately bought from a nearby store. However, Reynante did not let go of the child and demanded that he be given food. Still, he did not eat the food when it arrived.
After over an hour of negotiations, Canseko said he decided to approach Reynante who, at that time, was slowly moving towards his house.
Canseko said he and his men continued talking to the suspect until such time that Reynante was climbing the stairs to the doorway, which gave Canseko the chance to advance towards the suspect fast and pin him down and handcuff his hand.
Babiera and Montecalyo immediately went to the child’s rescue.
Reynante was immediately brought to the Municipal Health Center where he was checked before he was turned over to the municipal jail. Canseko said the suspect kept on shouting the entire time he was in jail.
The next day, Friday, morning the suspect was brought to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.
Canseko said the child did not suffer any injury or manifested trauma. The child even reportedly asked his grandmother if they could visit his father.
Canseko also said the child was crying during the hostage situation, but reportedly did not manifest fear. (THE FREEMAN)