Man stabs ma, takes kin hostage

MANILA, Philippines - A man high on drugs attacked his own mother and held his relatives, including an infant, hostage in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Jerry Lo, 22, was still gripping the eight-month-old baby girl when policemen arrested him four hours after he took his relatives hostage in Barangay Santa Teresita, said Superintendent Osmundo De Guzman.

According to De Guzman, the incident began at around 5:30 a.m. when Lo and his mother, Luzviminda, went to visit their relatives living nearby.

For no apparent reason, Lo allegedly stabbed his own mother in the chest. The mother was immediately brought to the hospital but it was at this point that Lo took his relatives hostage.

De Guzman said the suspect also hacked his cousin, John Carlo Galendon, 20, in the leg.

Lo’s aunt, Josephine Galendon, 43, along with John Carlo and Mary Rose Galendon, 16, barricaded themselves in a room to protect themselves from the suspect. Lo got hold of eight-month-old Rachel Anne, whose parents were not around at the time.

De Guzman said Lo did not have any demands except for a cigarette and water. He did not give any reason why he attacked his mother and relatives.

Policemen could not get into the house since it was dimly lit and was in a gated compound. De Guzman said they eventually managed to convince the suspect to go out of the house by telling him that his father was on the phone. When he reached the gate, policemen arrested him.

De Guzman said John Carlo was already pale from blood loss when they were rescued and brought to the hospital.

De Guzman said they recovered five bladed weapons in the area, including two knives Lo alternately used to threaten Rachel Anne and a bloodied cleaver they suspect was used in attacking John Carlo. The infant was unharmed.

De Guzman said Lo is facing charges of frustrated parricide, frustrated homicide, child abuse, and alarm and scandal.