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.