Man takes boy hostage inside passenger bus in Albay

Police rescued a two-year-old boy from a man who took him hostage for eight hours inside a passenger bus in Oas, Albay on Monday.

Chief Superintendent Melvin Buenafe, Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol) director, said they rescued the boy from Daquila Balanon, who was arrested during an eight-hour negotiation.

The boy's mother told GMA News that she was having a conversation with the man who mentioned that he was on his way to Masbate to seek advise about his problem with his own child.

In the middle of their conversation, Balanon suddenly snatched the boy from his mother. The hostage-taking happened at around 2 a.m.

"Lumipat siya sa likuran ko tapos paglipat niya bigla na lang 'nya hinila ang anak ko. Tulog ang anak ko. Ang sabi niya may malaki daw siyang problema sa anak niya pangalawa, uwi daw siya para humingi ng advise sa tiyuhin niya," the victim's mother said.

Buenafe said Balanon, who was armed with a knife, initially asked if he could talk to GMA News' Mike Enriquez. The suspect also asked for a firearm and a vehicle, he added.

"Nang malingat ang atensyon ng suspek ay bigla nilang (police negotiators) hinablot ang kamay ng biktima sabay kuha sa bata," the police official said.

Charges are being prepared against Balanon. —report from Michael Jaucian/ALG, GMA News