The Saudi Gazette
MANILA
IN a hostage drama played out throughout the world, a Filipino engineer and a companion took 32 schoolchildren and two teachers as hostages Wednesday inside a tourist bus in a show of disgust over the plight of the poor.
At past 7 p.m., it was all over as Armando “Jun” Ducat freed his hostages after government negotiators met his demand that the children be provided with free education until college. A computer school has agreed to sponsor their education.
The children were immediately taken to the hospital for stress debriefing.
Ducat was stripped of his Uzi sub machine-gun before he and his companion, identified as Cesar Carbonell, were taken to the Manila Police District headquarters.
Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Chavit Singson, who was allowed to go inside the bus at around 6 p.m., got hold of the two live grenades Ducat was carrying.
The children, aged 4 to 6, were scheduled to go to Tagaytay for a field trip sponsored by Ducat as a gift after they graduated from his Musmos Bata Daycare Center in Parola compound in Tondo, Manila.
Around 9:30 a.m. Ducat told the driver, Deogracias Bugarin, to park the bus at a bus terminal near the Manila City Hall as someone would supposedly bring them food.
As the driver got off to light a cigarette, Ducat shut the door on him.
A large cardboard stating that he had taken the schoolchildren as hostages was then pasted on the front windshield.
Members of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, ambulances and the Special Weapons and Tactics Team encircled the bus.
Traffic was stalled around the city hall due to thousands of onlookers.
Ducat demanded free housing and education until college for the 145 students enrolled in his daycare center.
Ducat assailed corrupt politicians for their indifference to the plight of impoverished Filipinos. “My fellowmen, beware of politicians. They spend loads of money this campaign season but once they’re in power, they will steal from us,” Ducat said in Tagalog through a megaphone outside the bus.
He said while the Philippines is recognized as a religious nation, the people act like “God-less” individuals. “We are number in corruption throughout Asia! The people are hungry!” he cried.
The schoolchildren were apparently oblivious of what was happening as they were seen waving when curtains on the bus windows were pulled aside. At one stage, a policeman delivered gallons of ice cream.
Around 10 a.m., Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., upon the request of Ducat, arrived and talked with the hostage takers for about 20 minutes.
“He has some demands and I already gave him an assurance that I would guarantee the education of the children,” Revilla said.
Revilla said he has known Ducat since he was the governor of Cavite.
He said Ducat is a man of principles and has a pro-poor advocacy. “He only wanted to be heard by the nation,” Revilla said.
Revilla said he and Ducat were partners in livelihood projects in Cavite. Ducat owns a lot used as a housing project in Imus, Cavite.
Gemma Arroyo, a parent, said they understand the grievances of Ducat. “We can forgive him because he’s a good man,” she said.
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