Hostage-taker releases children, teachers

Story Highlights

• NEW: Hostage-taker releases preschool children and teachers
• Daycare center owner is disarmed and arrested after surrendering
• Man used hostage-taking as opportunity to criticize policies in Philippines
• Sign on bus window said 32 children, two teachers on board

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MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- A daycare operator -- armed with grenades and a gun -- released more than 30 preschool children and their teachers Wednesday after holding them hostage on a bus for more than eight hours.

Jun Ducat, 56, was taken into custody after the hostages were freed at about 7:10 p.m. local time (1110 GMT).

Ducat was disarmed and taken away by police amid cheers from the crowd that had gathered around the bus in Manila.

Manila Police Chief Danilo Abarzosa said Ducat would be charged with illegal detention and abduction, illegal possession of explosives and illegal possession of firearms, The Associated Press reported.

Ducat said during the standoff that he had seized the hostages in an effort to call attention to education and housing issues, as well as corruption, in the Philippines. (What what the hostage-taker had demanded )

In a similar incident in the 1980s, Ducat took two Catholic priests hostage over a pay dispute. (Watch what's known about Ducat )

Ducat was disqualified as a congressional candidate in 2001, The Associated Press reported. It was not immediately known why he was disqualified.

Wednesday's hostage drama unfolded on a warm day just a short distance from City Hall, where Ducat had driven the students after dismissing the bus driver, authorities said.

"Our hostages are 32 kids and 2 teachers," a sign in the bus window said. "We have 2 grenades, an Uzi and a .45-caliber pistol."

The sign also said: "We want housing and schooling for 145 kids in a daycare center." (Watch the bus and the telephone that's been placed for the hostage-takers to use )

Bowing to one of Ducat's demands, authorities allowed him to address the media via a wireless speaker that was placed on the sidewalk outside the bus.

"I love these kids; that's why I am here," Ducat told DZMM radio, AP reported. "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."

He used the opportunity to criticize the nation's political system, accusing it of graft and corruption and telling Filipinos not to depend on their politicians.

Early in the afternoon, a local politician, Sen. Ramon Revilla, entered the bus to conduct direct negotiations.

"He actually knows all of these children and all of the teachers of the bus," said Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, who talked with Ducat on the phone. "He has been a donor to the daycare center and to the school."

One of Revilla's children is Ducat's godson, said Col. Rommel Miranda of the Manila police department, in citing both Ducat and the senator.

Ducat has been "described as very kind and helpful to other people," Miranda said, adding, "He's one of those people who helped children go through pre-school" in the local area.

A child was later taken off the bus, after complaining of not feeling well. He was placed in an ambulance and taken to the hospital, as temperatures soared into the mid-30s C (90s F).

The engine of the purple-and-gray bus continued to run, providing air conditioning, AP reported.

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