Retired Army officer takes family hostage

MANILA, Philippines - A retired Army colonel was arrested in Quezon City yesterday for allegedly taking his family hostage and threatening them.

Hilario Estrella, 55, was brought to Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center following the hour-long incident yesterday morning.

Case investigator Police Officer 2 Noel Galano said the incident happened in Barangay Culiat, where the retired colonel’s wife, Marilyn, 52, and their children have been staying.

Galano said no charges will be filed against the retired military official – the family wants him admitted into a mental health institution instead.

Marilyn told police her husband had retired early from the service after purportedly suffering from war shock and head wounds. She claimed her husband had been suffering from a mental illness and that she had decided to live separately from him because he had been hurting her.

Hilario went to the house his wife was renting at around 7 a.m., armed with a Swiss knife, and took his family hostage. Marilyn’s neighbors noticed the commotion and contacted the police.

Policemen subdued Estrella when he stepped out of the house an hour after taking his family hostage.