Silay and Victorias cities yesterday declared states of calamity so funds can be allocated to help Tuesday’s flood victims, and to clear waterways.

Silay and Victorias  had the most number of flood victims and houses destroyed during the floods that hit four cities and one town, leaving two dead from drowning, flooding the homes of 14,177 families, destroying and damaging 243 houses, and causing an initial P10.8 million in damage to crops and fishery products.

Silay City had the most number of families whose houses were flooded at 5,129, followed by Victorias City with 4,635, EB Magalona town – 3,153, and Talisay City – 1,260, a terminal report of Provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia showed yesterday.

A tricycle driver held six members of his family hostage Wednesday night in Silay City, Negros Occidental, in what the police said was triggered by a domestic problem.

The hostage-taker, Rolando Galilea, was, however, subdued by members of the Silay police Special Weapons and Tactics unit headed by Supt. Jerry Bartolome, while negotiation was being made by Councilor Toto Celiz.

Armed with a “kris bolo” and a scythe, Galilea, 42, held hostage his mother, Margarita, 83, sisters Jennelyn and Delia,  as well as three minor nieces, at their residence in Brgy. Rizal, Silay City.

Bacolod City Police Office Director Senior Supt. Celestino Guara yesterday said that they will seek a court order so businessman David Lim can be sent to an institution to check the real state of his mental health.

Lim, 31, of Bethlehem Street at Bethany Court, Brgy. Estefania, is now detained at Police Station 4 after he allegedly stabbed and injured his mother Yolanda, 59, and younger brother, Richard, 27, in their house at about 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Henry Lim, David’s father, arrived and subdued him, so Richard was able to escape and Yolanda to hide in the bathroom. The police then entered the Lim residence to rescue the bleeding mother and arrest the suspect, who was being hugged by his father.