Girl, 8, rescued from hostage-taker in Bulacan

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga, Philippines – Police rescued an eight-year-old girl who was held hostage in a church in Bocaue, Bulacan on Tuesday. 

Senior Superintendent Ferdinand Divina, Bulacan police director, said Erwin Latina, 32, took hostage the Grade 3 pupil and resident of Barangay Bagumbayan while she was attending her first communion at Saint Martin of Tours Parish Church.

Divina said the suspect claimed somebody wanted to kill him and demanded to talk to Mayor Jonjon Villanueva.

Latina released the girl unharmed after around 10 minutes of negotiation. The suspect was detained at the Bocaue police station.