Posted on 03/27/2007 7:35:51 PM PDT by nuconvert
Students held hostage in Philippines Gunmen who say they have grenades seize group near Manila’s city hall BREAKING NEWS The Associated Press Updated: 7:34 p.m. MT March 27, 2007 MANILA, Philippines - Unidentified gunmen seized a busload of students and teachers near Manila's city hall while on the run after a holdup Wednesday, police said.
Hostage-takers scribbled on a piece of paper, visible through the bus window, that they were holding 32 children and two teachers and were armed with two grenades, an Uzi assault rifle police and a .45-caliber pistol, officer Mark Andal said.
They said they were demanding housing and education for 145 children in a day-care center.
Police surrounded the bus. TV footage showed the young children, one in sunglasses, waving from the windows, and a woman could be seen making a hand signal asking for a phone as one of the gunmen held a grenade at her side.
"They are hold-uppers being chased by our policemen," Manila police chief Reynaldo Varilla told DZMM radio, adding that two men were believed to be involved. "They saw a bus loaded with pupils.
"Right now negotiations are ongoing. We hope we can have them surrender peacefully so no one will be hurt."
There was no immediate word on the ages of the students or details on the reported hold-up.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
That's an interesting article eleni.
Thanks.
I lived in the Philippines for four years. Its a beautiful country. Our neighborhoods were guarded around the clock. Our family never had problems with violence although with theft on a few occassions. I recall the devastating typhoons when our area was cut off from the rest of the country and world as it was for over 40 days. I saw houses floating down the river.
Anyhoo... more importantly, prayers lifted for the children's safety and acute wisdom and discernment for those handling the negotiations and logistics.
Um, that's a little extreme, considering there is a busload of schoolkids involved, doncha think?
Yes, prayers for the children and a peaceful resolution.
educate these children or we will kill them. no words.
God help everyone, if ever an irrational hostage taker decides to hijack his own bus full of little kids!
Or, does this just mean the Senator is also not very rational?
Maybe the both need to remember to take their dried frog pills on a regular basis.
Depends on how good the shooter is, considering there's only one "rational" mad-man involved. (see Post 38)
I found the statement interesting and unusual, too.
Old money families run PI.....same as Mexico...not much difference...MacArthur srewed the pooch after WWII...he regretted it till the day he died.
UPDATE:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=71671
"(5th UPDATE) Malacañang to PNP: End hostage crisis peacefully"
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Ermita also appealed to Ducat to remain calm and not to use violence."
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Other report said Sen. Ramon "Bong" Revilla has already alighted from the bus after talking with Ducat for almost an hour."
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Terrified parents who trooped to the site of the hostage-taking appealed to Ducat to release their children.
The parents said Ducat is a kind and helpful person."
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Ducat has also asked for a doctor. He said he recently had an angioplasty."
Well yeah, you gotta point... guess it'll need a lower caliber type... "less torn flesh coming out" stuff... just wish the grenade pins were not detached.
UPDATE:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=71686
Metro (as of 3:13 PM)
"Tears, fears for parents of child hostages"
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Police cordoned off an entire block around Manila city hall as anxious parents and relatives tried to make sense of why the head of the pre-school center himself, Armando "Jun" Ducat Jr., had taken his young charges hostage."
ARTICLE SNIPPET: ""He wants candles and batteries for his cell phone. The children are okay. He just wants to talk," Revilla said. "He promised not to hurt anyone. But his hands were shaking while he was holding the grenade.""
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Sen. Alfredo Lim, a former Manila police chief, said Ducat had a history of seeking attention. He held hostage two Roman Catholic priests elsewhere in Manila in 1987 using fake grenades over a building contract dispute.
The priests were later freed unharmed and Ducat was charged, but the case failed to finish, Lim told reporters.
"I'm sure this will end peacefully as well," he added.
Ducat's son, Buboy, said his father had been railing about poverty and dirty politics and wanted his voice to be heard.
Authorities said Ducat was a successful businessman and building contractor who had run for various local electoral posts but never won.
"I don't have an idea why he did this," he said. AFP"
Not to be judgmental of the culture or any-thing...but, what's a little hostage taking between friends...sure let him be the head of a pre-school. Wierd.
Yes, this is odd.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=71687
Metro (as of 4:46 PM)
"(7th UPDATE) Ducat airs gripes over speaker"
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Deadline set
Meanwhile Revilla said a deadline for hostage-taker Armando "Jun" Ducat Jr. to surrender before police storms the bus has been set.
Revilla told reporters that Ducat has until 7 p.m. to surrender before authorities try to take control of the bus where about 31 children and two teachers are being held hostage."
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "One child released through Revilla
Ducat earlier released one of his hostages to Revilla almost four hours after the crisis started.
Ducat said he released the boy because the child has fever.
"Nasaan si Bong may isang bata akong ire-release dahil sa may lagnat. (Where is Bong? I will release a child who has fever)," Ducat announced over DZMM earlier.
Revilla had just alighted from the bus after almost an hour of negotiating with Ducat.
The senator was out talking to some people about the hostage crisis when Ducat announced his decision to release the boy.
Revilla carried the boy from the bus to a waiting stretcher. The boy was immediately attended by paramedics deployed in front of Manila City Hall."
(Re post no. 57)
Sorry, wrong thread.
UPDATE...
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/03/28/philippines.hostages/index.html
"Hostage-taker agrees to surrender"
POSTED: 5:45 a.m. EDT, March 28, 2007
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- A day care operator agreed to surrender at 7 p.m. (1100 GMT) Wednesday after taking a busload of more than 30 of his preschool children and their teachers hostage, authorities said.
"He wants candles lighted at 7 o'clock, and then he will let the children go," incident commander Bayani Fernando told CNN, referring to 60-year-old Jun Ducat.
Ducat will be arrested and criminal charges will be filed after the hostages are set free, police said.
There is also believed to be at least one other gunman involved."
Thank you for the updates.
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