Man takes family hostage at Camp Karingal

MANILA, Philippines - A drunk man, who was supposed to report his wife’s alleged extra-marital affair to the police, ended up taking his wife and two children hostage at a police camp in Quezon City Sunday night.

Salik Ampuan, 28, was arrested after the hostage-taking, which lasted for more than an hour, said Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Richard Albano.

Ampuan, of nearby Barangay Krus na Ligas, went to Camp Karingal together with his wife and two children in a tricycle driven by Enrique Sunga at around 7:30 p.m.

The police officers posted at the camp’s gates flagged down the tricycle for inspection, but as the lawmen were about to approach, Sunga sped away.

QCPD deputy director for operations Senior Superintendent Procopio Lipana said Ampuan, at gunpoint, forced Sunga to drive away, prompting policemen to chase after them.

The tricycle ended up in a parking space facing the office of the QCPD’s anti-drug unit, a stone’s throw away from the camp gates.

When the policemen followed the tricycle, Ampuan got out, holding a gun. Lipana said Ampuan fired his gun twice.

Lipana negotiated with Ampuan and persuaded the suspect to calm down. According to Lipana, the suspect initially said during the negotiations that they went to the police camp to report about their missing child.

But following his arrest, the suspect told police they went there to complain about his wife’s extra-marital affair, said Chief Inspector Rodel Marcelo, head of the QCPD’s criminal investigation and detection unit.

Lipana said they seized a .45 caliber pistol from Ampuan, who was under the influence of liquor.

Cases for illegal possession of a firearm, alarm and scandal and grave threat were filed against the suspect with the city fiscal’s office.