A husband took his own wife hostage during a spat in their house in Barangay Cambagroy in Bais City, Oriental Negros, yesterday afternoon.

Bais City Police Chief, Chief Insp. Carlos Lacuesta, said Kokie Pael, 35, a government casual employee, poured kerosene on himself and his wife as the hostage drama unfolded.

The couple's three children were in school at the time.

Policemen surrounded the house but were unsuccessful in convincing Pael to give up. Before they could barge in, however, Mayor Hector Villanueva arrived and succeeded in pacifying the suspect.

Pael allowed the mayor to enter the house and finally threw away his knife after about one hour of negotiations.

Villanueva drove the couple to his office where he allowed them time to discuss their marital troubles.

Later Pael confined at the city police station to cool off, while his wife agreed to go home.

Villanueva said he was happy that he wasn't able to leave for Manila that day as planned as the incident could have ended tragically.*AP

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