3 hurt in Bacnotan town hostage drama

SAN JUAN, La Union — Three siblings were rescued by the police mid-afternoon Monday after being taken hostage in their room by their drunken uncle early morning that same day in Barangay Bacsayan, here.

Senior Insp. Rudy Tagalikud, local police chief, said the victims – Olivia Hammer, 19; Sandra Hammer, 12; and Kevin Clifford Hammer, 9 – were slightly injured by the their uncle, Marvin Soriano, who was wielding a broken bottle during the hostage drama.

Probers said Soriano, who had been out of his wits after being blamed for the death of his other niece in a motorcycle accident, resorted to drinking prior to the hostage-taking. A police negotiator, Isagani Dumaoang, convinced the suspect to release his hostages.