Father who took his baby hostage in Taytay, Rizal asks for forgiveness

A 26-year-old father who took his own baby as hostage last Saturday asked his family for forgiveness.

"Wala pong pananadya po doon sa nangyari po na may patalim po. Kasi nga po hindi ko po alam. Sobrang dilim na dilim ng isip ko," the suspect said in a report by EJ Gomez on Unang Balita on Tuesday.

(There was no intention regarding the incident with the bladed weapon. I was not aware. My mind was not in a good place.)

"Patawad, mga anak. Hindi ko intensiyon lahat ng nangyari. Humihingi po ako ng tawad sa aking asawa. Hindi ko gusto 'yung lahat ng nangyari. Patawarin n'yo ako. Gusto ko ulit makasama, gusto ko ulit mabuo 'yung pamilya natin," the suspect said while crying behind bars at the Taytay Municipal Police Station.

(Forgive me, children. I had no intention regarding all that happened. I am asking forgiveness from my wife. I did not want those incidents to happen. Forgive me. I want to be with, I want our family to be together again.)

Police said the hostage-taking took place in Barangay Sta Ana at around 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Rizal Provincial Police Office Director Police Colonel Felipe Maraggun said the suspect's live-in partner had previously accused the suspect of repeatedly molesting his 13-year-old stepdaughter.

The partner added that the suspect fled to the province, but they did not notice that he went home that Saturday evening.

When he arrived, he ran to the highway carrying the baby. He held the baby upside down and said he would not be the only one who would die that night.

After an hour-long negotiation, the suspect surrendered to authorities.

The baby had minor wounds on her neck where her father held a bladed object.

In an interview, the partner said she previously caught the suspect in the act of raping her 13-year-old daughter while their twin children were around.

Asked for comment about the alleged molestation, the suspect said he will just explain in court.

"Sa korte na lang po ako magsasalita... Sa korte na lang po, Ma'm," he said.

(I will just talk in court... In court, Ma'm.)

Authorities already filed complaints against the suspect for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004; alarm and scandal; and illegal possession of bladed weapon.

According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Marlo Solero, chief of police of Taytay Municipal Police Station, the suspect may be charged with another complaint for the alleged molestation.

"Siguro this week 'pag nakumpleto na ng investigator natin 'yung mga documents para sa kasong [paglabag sa RA] 9262. 'Yun 'yung alleged na pangmomolestiya niya du'n sa 13-year-old na stepdaughter," Solero said.

(Maybe this week, our investigator will complete all the documents needed for the complaint of violation of RA 9262. That is for the alleged molestation of the 13-year-old stepdaughter.)

Meanwhile the one-year-old baby who was taken hostage is now in good condition.

"Okay naman 'yung bata, 'yung one-year-old na bata na na-hostage. Malusog siya," Solero said.

(The baby is okay, the one-year-old who was taken hostage. She is healthy.)

The suspect's live-in partner and children are meanwhile recovering from their wounds previously allegedly inflicted by the suspect. —KG, GMA Integrated News