Drunk man takes ex-partner, 2 kids hostage

MANILA, Philippines - A drunk deliveryman took his former live-in partner and their two children hostage for two hours at her parent’s house in Mandaluyong City yesterday in a bid to convince her to resume their relationship.

Police said Mark Ulysses Alumno, 28, still reeked of liquor when he surrendered to city police chief Senior Superintendent Armando Bolalin and Barangay Addition Hills chairman Rodolfo Posadas at about 8 a.m. He yielded a fan knife which he used to hold hostage his 25-year-old former partner and their children, aged five and three.

Police said Alumno and the woman have been living separately for the past several months. At about 5:30 a.m. yesterday, Alumno called up the woman’s house to talk to her.

When told that she was still asleep, Alumno rushed to the house of his former live-in partner on Daisy street. The woman's  father refused him entry.

Alumno took out a fan knife, climbed the cement wall and at knifepoint demanded that the woman’s parents let him talk to her.

Police Officer 1 Monette Langil said the woman woke up due to the commotion. Upon realizing that Alumno was making trouble, she locked the door of the room where she and her children have been staying.

Langil said Alumno destroyed the door and beat his former lover, who said her ex-partner hit her until she fell to the floor. The woman said even though she was afraid – he was pointing the knife at her – she embraced him and pleaded with him not to harm her and their two children, who were crying during the attack.

Police and barangay officials arrived and negotiated with Alumno for two hours to release the woman and their children.

She said it was not the first time Alumno hurt her while under the influence of liquor. She said she filed a complaint against Alumno before the local police in December 2010 but she forgave him because she loved him.

She said after the latest beating, she is ready to file charges against Alumno as her family’s safety is at stake.

Alumno said he still loves her, “that’s why I’m doing everything to get her and our children back. I already have a job to support them.”

He is being held at the Mandaluyong City Jail while police are preparing charges against him.