This is from inq7.net:

HOSTAGE DRAMA
26 children freed after 10-hr standoff

By Volt Contreras, Tina Santos, Alcuin Papa
Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- “Let the candles be a warning. If the promises remain unfulfilled, you will see those candles again.”

With these words, Armando “Jun” Ducat Jr. put the pin back in the grenade, handed it over to Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson, and surrendered.

Having gotten his wish for a candlelight vigil against corruption, Ducat gave up, leaving the nation wondering whether it had found a new hero or simply saw a dangerous political stunt.

The hostage drama near the Manila City Hall, which began at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday and gripped the country until sundown, was over.

Ducat, a 56-year-old civil engineer, freed a busload of children and teachers after a 10-hour standoff that he had used to denounce corruption in government and demanded free education for poor children.

Clutching dolls, toys and backpacks, the children began filing off the bus shortly after 7 p.m. as Ducat had promised in a rambling message delivered via a loudspeaker hours earlier.

As jubilant parents were reunited with their children, Ducat was led to a waiting police car and driven away.

“I accept that I should be jailed because what I did was against the law,” said the man who had staged other attention-grabbing stunts in the past.

Ducat, who received assurances that his students would get a good education, apologized to them and to the police.

Police said Ducat would be charged with serious illegal detention, illegal possession of firearms, alarm and scandal and violation of the election gun ban.

The second man was brought to the precinct with Ducat. He was identified as Cesar Carbonnel, 39, said to be a consultant of Ducat. Police did not say if similar charges would be brought against Carbonnel.

The drama began just after the crack of dawn Wednesday when a purple-and-gray bus picked up 26 children and four teachers from Musmos Day Care Center in Tondo for a field trip at the end of the school year.

The bus then drove to the Blue Wave Commercial area, picked up boxes of food from Jollibee, then on to a garage where Ducat, the center’s owner, got on board, carrying toys.

Bus driver Deogracias Bugarin said later that, as directed, he proceeded to the Andres Bonifacio Shrine beside the Manila City Hall, where Ducat, accompanied by another man and armed with a .45 cal. pistol, an Uzi assault rifle and two grenades, announced, “Pare, hostage ‘to” (This is a hostage situation).

As a traffic jam built up and police and reporters converged at the scene, Ducat denounced official corruption and demanded better lives for the poor children.

It was the kind of media coverage that Ducat, with a history of attention-grabbing stunts, clearly wanted. And with a local and international television audience, he got it.

Ducat, who founded the 145-student day care center about four years ago in Manila’s Tondo district, had chartered the tourist bus for a field trip marking the end of the school year.

The former contractor taped a handwritten sheet of paper to the windshield, saying he and a companion were holding 26 children and four teachers and were armed. It also gave Ducat’s cell phone number.

“I love these kids, that’s why I am here,” Ducat told dzMM radio by mobile phone. “I invited the children for a field trip ... You can be assured that I cannot hurt the children. In case I need to shed blood, I will not be the first to fire. I am telling the policemen, have pity on these children.”

President Macapagal-Arroyo said she was glad the children were safe and vowed to throw the full force of the law at the hostage-takers.

“I am ordering speedy prosecution to keep this recidivist from doing it again, and to warn others from copycat behavior. The end does not justify the means,” Ms Arroyo said in a statement.

“Despite the seemingly noble issues being raised in this bizarre drama, this government shall not stand for prank-terrorism,” she said.

Driver Bugarin, who escaped after he was allowed to smoke outside, said he thought there were four people involved in the hostage-taking. He said that the children, aged 5 to 7, did not know what was going on.

“When the toys were distributed, they were very happy. They were even playing,” said Bugarin. “I thought it was just a joke. And then I saw the placard in front of the bus. I decided not to return.”

During the standoff, police had surrounded the bus, owned by Philippine Trans Corp., its emergency lights flashing and engine running. Black-clad police bomb squads and Special Weapons and Tactics teams watched from behind the Bonifacio shrine. Ambulances, fire trucks and crisis teams from the Social Welfare Department stood on standby.

The President’s office was monitoring the hostage drama closely.

TV footage showed the children waving from the windows, apparently to show they were OK, before the curtains were closed.

The mothers of some of the hostaged children went on radio to tearfully appeal for their children’s safety.

Ducat said the hostage-taking was for the children’s benefit.

“I am asking for justice so they can have continued education up to college,” Ducat said.

Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral talked with Ducat and offered assurances that the children would get a good education.

Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who said he knew Ducat, was allowed to board the bus for negotiations. Some portions of their conversation were broadcast live on radio. The sounds of the kids playing, singing and talking could be heard in the background.

A boy, who was nursing a fever, was released to Revilla.

With the children chanting his name, Ducat was given a wireless microphone and allowed to make a rambling statement in which he railed against corruption and politicians’ failure to make good on promises of free education and housing for the poor.

“While generations of politicians change, we continue to suffer in poverty,” Ducat said. “These politicians promise education, health and housing, but unless we stop corruption ... they will just feast on the budget.”

The incident virtually shut down the capital’s main office building, drew thousands of onlookers and was beamed live around the world -- drawing the type of media coverage that Ducat clearly wanted with midterm elections scheduled for May. With reports from Allison Lopez and Associated Press

Copyright 2007 Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

     This is what's happening to the Philippines right now. I feel totally humiliated and angered at the same time. A man in his what, late or early fifties holding innocent children hostage? That won't solve anything!! Senatorial candidates 'trying to help and mediate' when all they do is meddle with the situation and promote themselves?!?? What kind of immorality is this? This is really something to ponder.... To all Filipinos out there, please be concerned about this country cause it's going to the dogs.

To all Filipino politicians:

DON'T BOTHER TO RUN IN THE ELECTIONS

IF YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!

DON'T BOTHER TO RUN IN THE ELECTIONS

IF YOU'RE JUST GOING TO USE

ALL OUR MONEY FOR YOUR POOL-FILLED HOUSES,

YOUR MILLIONS, AND

BANNERS FOR THE NEXT TERM'S ELECTIONS!!!

DON'T BOTHER TO MESS UP

 THE LIVES OF ALL THE FILIPINOS AND MAKE BROKEN,

INSINCERE PROMISES.

DO NOT BOTHER TO RUN IN THE ELECTIONS

IF YOU DON'T LOVE

THIS COUNTRY,

ITS PEOPLE,

AND ITS FUTURE.

 

~ r -e -b -o -l -u -s -y -o -n ~