MANILA – A man claiming to be suffering from depression held an altar server hostage in Cubao, Quezon City Wednesday morning.

The suspect, 37-year-old Roel Sabaco, barged into the sound system room of Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral at around 6 a.m. and held an altar server at gunpoint.

The altar server, however, fought back and snatched the suspect’s gun, which turned out to be just a toy.

Sabaco is now detained at the Quezon City Police District – Station 10.

Sabaco said he attacked the altar server since he was suffering from depression. He claimed he had undergone some tests at the Philippine General Hospital, but has yet to consult a psychiatrist to check on his condition.

He said one of the main causes of his depression is his lack of a regular job and his inability to pay for the tuition of his daughter, a second year Nursing student.

Aside from the toy gun, several alleged business cards of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) personnel were retrieved from Sabaco, who claimed to be a PDEA asset.

Police have yet to determine if all of Sabaco’s claims are real, saying that the latter’s statements were inconsistent. – report from Johnson Manabat, dzMM