Kids freed after 10 hours

MANILA – A Philippine pre-school head surrendered to police yesterday after holding a busload of his own students hostage with a hand grenade and other weapons in what he said was an appeal to help them.

Amando ‘Jun’ Ducat was taken away by police after the 10-hour standoff on a school bus on the streets of Manila that saw the government let him give a rambling address on national radio demanding better housing and education. Ducat, a veteran attention-seeker who kidnapped two priests 20 years ago, had repeatedly promised not to hurt the 32 children, all of whom were released after he appeared to hand over at least one hand grenade to police.”I apologise for taking this harsh step,” Ducat said in a brief speech via a public address system connected to the bus before he freed the youngsters and two teachers and gave himself up.”I ask the forgiveness of the people of Parola,” he said, referring to the slum neighbourhood in Manila where most of the children live.”I did what I did because of my love for you.”Some of the children were seen smiling from the bus during the standoff and many in the enormous crowd of onlookers chanted Ducat’s name in what appeared to be support for his appeal to give them a better future.”Ducat, Ducat, Ducat!” the crowd shouted.Some held up signs reading: “We support you.”He could be seen tenderly kissing some of the children on the forehead before they were released.During the tense standoff earlier, Ducat called a radio station and demanded free education and free housing for 145 pre-schoolers, including the hostages, at the Musmos Day Care Centre he runs in the city’s slum Tondo district.In a rambling discourse, he had vowed to surrender peacefully if his demands were met and pledged he would not hurt the children.”I love these children, that’s why I am here,” he said.”I will not start any shooting,” he said.One who reportedly had a fever was released hours before the crisis was resolved.Nampa-AFPDucat, a veteran attention-seeker who kidnapped two priests 20 years ago, had repeatedly promised not to hurt the 32 children, all of whom were released after he appeared to hand over at least one hand grenade to police.”I apologise for taking this harsh step,” Ducat said in a brief speech via a public address system connected to the bus before he freed the youngsters and two teachers and gave himself up.”I ask the forgiveness of the people of Parola,” he said, referring to the slum neighbourhood in Manila where most of the children live.”I did what I did because of my love for you.”Some of the children were seen smiling from the bus during the standoff and many in the enormous crowd of onlookers chanted Ducat’s name in what appeared to be support for his appeal to give them a better future.”Ducat, Ducat, Ducat!” the crowd shouted.Some held up signs reading: “We support you.”He could be seen tenderly kissing some of the children on the forehead before they were released.During the tense standoff earlier, Ducat called a radio station and demanded free education and free housing for 145 pre-schoolers, including the hostages, at the Musmos Day Care Centre he runs in the city’s slum Tondo district.In a rambling discourse, he had vowed to surrender peacefully if his demands were met and pledged he would not hurt the children.”I love these children, that’s why I am here,” he said.”I will not start any shooting,” he said.One who reportedly had a fever was released hours before the crisis was resolved.Nampa-AFP