Minors killed in hostage taking, suspect injured
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A hostage taker killed his two stepsons inside a nipa house in Barangay Tagbaya, Ibajay, Aklan / PHOTOS BY AKLAN PNP

IBAJAY, Aklan - Two young children were killed by their stepfather in a gruesome hostage taking on Monday morning.

Acting Aklan provincial director Superintendent Samuel Nacion said the hostage taking took place at Barangay Tagbaya of this town.

Armed with a jungle bolo, the suspect identified as 44-year old Ronnie Gumapac, native of Torin, Davao City and presently residing in Barangay Tagbaya, hacked to death his two stepsons, Reymar, 12 and Charles Ryan, 9, all surname Dela Cruz.

SPO2 George Flores, investigator of Ibajay police station, said the hostage taker was also injured of self-inflicted wounds on his chest and throat.

Gumapac took hostage the three minors as early as 2 a.m. in their nipa house near the national highway of Barangay Tagbaya.

Flores said that they immediately sent policemen after the barangay chairman of Tagbaya sought for police assistance at around 7 a.m.

He said the Dela Cruz brothers were already dead, with their throats slashed, while five-year old Ronnel is still held hostage by his father, when the Ibajay policemen arrived at the crime scene.

Responding cops cordoned off the area and tried for the release of Ronnel, who also sustained a wound on his neck. After an hour of stand-off hostage drama, Gumapac released his son to the police, but, at this point, the suspect threatened to kill himself.

Later, Gumapac was taken into custody by the responding personnel from the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT). He also surrendered his jungle bolo used in the hostage taking.

The suspect was rushed at Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in the capital town for medical treatment.

Flores said the victims' mother Marissa Dela Cruz is working as domestic helper in Brunei when the hostage taking happened.

Police are still looking for motive behind the brutal crimes of Gumapac, who is now under guard at the provincial hospital.