Man takes infant son hostage after marital spat

MANILA, Philippines -  A jobless man was arrested in Navotas City Saturday night for reportedly taking his 11-month-old son hostage after he and his wife had an argument, during which she threatened to leave him.

Allan Salazar, 32, a resident of Barangay Bangkulasi, warned “he would kill the child if the wife (makes good on) her threat,” city police chief Senior Superintendent Florendo Quibuyen told The STAR.

He said Salazar’s wife, accompanied by barangay watchmen, asked for police assistance at around 7:30 p.m., saying her husband took their child hostage.

Police said Salazar took the boy to his friend’s house in Barangay North Bay Boulevard North (NBBN), and ended up hiding in a parked car at the corner of M. Naval and Lacson streets.

The hostage drama ended at around 8:40 p.m. when the police officers decided to enter the vehicle and take hold of Salazar.

“The suspect failed to locked up the vehicle inside, so while one of the barangay officials was talking to him, our police officers took the opportunity to grab his knife and successfully rescue the boy,” Quibuyen said.

Quibuyen said the boy was brought for treatment of his scratches on his arms and body at the Tondo Medical Center. He said Salazar will be charged with grave threat and child abuse.