5-year-old boy being held hostage in Pangasinan

MANILA, Philippines - A 5-year-old boy is being held hostage reportedly by a troubled man in Sual town in Pangasinan for nearly four hours now, a television report said Friday. In his report over QTV's Balitanghali, GMA News' correspondent CJ Torida identified the suspect as Narciso Mandapat of Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, who is said to be beset by major family problems. Authorities have been trying for nearly four hours to convince the suspect to release the hostage, identified as John Chris Navarro, whom he has been holding captive in an abandoned house in Poblacion village. According to the report, police had previously arrested Mandapat for causing trouble in the area, but he managed to escape and hold the boy hostage. Aside from police, an ambulance is also on standby outside the house in case the suspect releases the hostage, the report said. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV