Police rescued a woman held hostage by her father during an incident involving a 55-year-old man armed with a bolo in Barangay Bugallon on 24 August 2026.

The Bugallon Municipal Police Station received a report from the barangay chairman at about 5 p.m. regarding the hostage-taking incident involving the suspect, a married laborer and resident of Bugallon. Three minors and one adult were identified as victims.

Personnel of the Bugallon police, led by PMAJ Rodolfo S. Labayo Jr., immediately responded to the area, followed by personnel of the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office and the Pangasinan PPO SWAT Team, led by PCPT John C. Ramos.

Upon arrival, police saw the suspect armed with a bolo while holding his daughter hostage. Labayo immediately initiated negotiations in an effort to resolve the situation peacefully.

During the negotiations, the suspect threw the bolo outside, temporarily reducing the immediate threat. Police, however, said the suspect later became aggressive and physically hurt his daughter.

According to the suspect's wife, her husband had allegedly been experiencing emotional distress following the deaths of their two sons in 2004 and 2018. She also told police that the suspect believed someone had poisoned their sons, which allegedly contributed to his increasing distress and suspicious behavior.

The wife further reported that the suspect had previously threatened and hurt members of the family and had held them hostage while armed with a bolo and other bladed weapons. She and her three young children were able to escape, but the suspect's daughter remained in his custody.

The Pangasinan PPO and SWAT Team then formulated an operational plan to restrain the suspect and rescue the remaining hostage.

Following an assessment of the situation and coordination among the responding personnel, the plan was successfully carried out, allowing police to intervene and secure the victim.

The incident is still being investigated by authorities.