BACOLOD CITY – A 38-year-old man was arrested by the police after holding his family hostage inside his sister’s house in Barangay Estefania here on Saturday afternoon, September 7.

Police Capt. Francis Depasucat, head of Police Station 4, said the suspect, armed with two knives and a hammer, climbed the wall to enter the house and locked the gate.
The suspect’s elderly mother and sister, with her two minor children, hid in a room their safety.
He entered the living room and destroyed appliances and objects.
Police arrived and negotiated with the suspect to calm him down but he sarcastically responded to them and his family.
Depasucat said the suspect was arguing with his sister and mother about money and other family matters that triggered him to be more aggressive.
Police said the suspect’s sister decided to let go of her brother from their house because of his unruly behavior, irking the suspect and caused him to hold grudges against his family.
The negotiation lasted for more than an hour until the police decided to subdue the suspect as the situation escalated because he was destroying the door of the room where his family were hiding.
Depasucat said the suspect, along with several policemen, were injured during the commotion.
The victims were rescued and the suspect is under police custody.
Appropriate cases are being prepared against the suspect, who had been arrested for illegal gambling and illegal possession of firearm.