Drunk who took ex-partner, 2 children hostage early Thursday surrenders

MANILA, Philippines—The drunk man who took hostage his former live-in partner and two children inside their home in Caloocan city surrendered peacefully after almost six hours of negotiation, police said Thursday.

Superintendent Carlito Dimalanta of Caloocan City police identified the suspect as Jerry de Leon who took hostage his former live in partner, Rebelyn Delgado, and their two children aged 5 and 7 inside their home in Phase 2 in Barangay (village) 176, Bagong Silang, Caloocan City around 9:30 a.m Thursday.

Dimalanta said the suspect, who was armed with a kitchen knife, got himself drunk when Delgado refused to get back with him after they separated some time December.

“Nagkaroon na kasi ng bagong partner si Rebelyn. Hindi niya matanggap kaya naglasing s’ya at hindi nakatulog (Rebelyn has another partner and he can’t accept it so he got himself drunk and couldn’t sleep),” he said, which could have prompted the suspect to go to Delgado’s house and run amok.

The suspect released his two children around 10 a.m., and made Delgado stay.

Dimalanta said de Leon even took a bath twice during the nearly six-hour hostage taking to recover from intoxication.

“Nung bumaba na yung tama ng alcohol, tinaas na niya yung kutsilyo niya at sinabi na susuko na s’ya (When his intoxication level decreases, he raises his arms with the knife and said he’s surrendering to the authorities),” he said, adding that the suspect opened the door and let Delgado go around 3 p.m. unharmed.

Dimalanta said the suspect will face charges for alarm and scandal, illegal detention, among others.