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| Manila bus siege children freed | Manila bus siege children freed |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A busload of pre-school children and their teachers were freed after being held at gunpoint for nearly 10 hours in the Philippine capital, Manila. | A busload of pre-school children and their teachers were freed after being held at gunpoint for nearly 10 hours in the Philippine capital, Manila. |
| The 32 children and two teachers were taken hostage by their day care centre owner, Jun Ducat, who said he wanted better conditions for the children. | The 32 children and two teachers were taken hostage by their day care centre owner, Jun Ducat, who said he wanted better conditions for the children. |
| He and at least one other reported hostage-taker gave themselves up. | He and at least one other reported hostage-taker gave themselves up. |
| As some of the children were carried off the bus, a ripple of applause broke out among the crowd around the bus. | As some of the children were carried off the bus, a ripple of applause broke out among the crowd around the bus. |
| The siege unfolded outside Manila City Hall. As the day progressed hundreds of onlookers joined worried parents at the police cordon. | The siege unfolded outside Manila City Hall. As the day progressed hundreds of onlookers joined worried parents at the police cordon. |
| The children had been heading out on a field trip in the morning when the hostage-takers took over the bus and drove it to the city hall. | The children had been heading out on a field trip in the morning when the hostage-takers took over the bus and drove it to the city hall. |
| Police were warned, via cardboard messages in the bus window, that an Uzi assault rifle, a revolver and two grenades, as well as food and water for two days, were on board. | Police were warned, via cardboard messages in the bus window, that an Uzi assault rifle, a revolver and two grenades, as well as food and water for two days, were on board. |
| 'Political reality' | 'Political reality' |
| During the siege, Mr Ducat justified his actions in interviews with the local media. | During the siege, Mr Ducat justified his actions in interviews with the local media. |
| Using a mobile phone from the bus, he said he had no intention of harming the children. | Using a mobile phone from the bus, he said he had no intention of harming the children. |
| In pictures: Hostage crisis | In pictures: Hostage crisis |
| He insisted his aim was to demand better housing and education for the 145 children at his centre in Manila's poor Tondo district. | He insisted his aim was to demand better housing and education for the 145 children at his centre in Manila's poor Tondo district. |
| "I am so sorry I took these children in a violent action to call the attention of the Filipino people to open their minds to the political reality," he said. | "I am so sorry I took these children in a violent action to call the attention of the Filipino people to open their minds to the political reality," he said. |
| At one point, a local senator, Ramon Revilla, who was reported to have known Mr Ducat, boarded the bus to try to persuade him to surrender. | At one point, a local senator, Ramon Revilla, who was reported to have known Mr Ducat, boarded the bus to try to persuade him to surrender. |
| One boy suffering from a fever was allowed to go free. | One boy suffering from a fever was allowed to go free. |
| Although the bus was parked in the open on a hot day, the children - all aged around five years old - did not appear to be suffering any discomfort. | Although the bus was parked in the open on a hot day, the children - all aged around five years old - did not appear to be suffering any discomfort. |
| They waved when the bus curtains were pulled back, and ice cream was seen being delivered to the bus by a policeman. | They waved when the bus curtains were pulled back, and ice cream was seen being delivered to the bus by a policeman. |
| 'Passionate individual' | 'Passionate individual' |
| Mr Ducat agreed to release the children at 1900 (1100GMT), and in return the police agreed to his request that candles be lit and the press be allowed to cover the event. | Mr Ducat agreed to release the children at 1900 (1100GMT), and in return the police agreed to his request that candles be lit and the press be allowed to cover the event. |
| Although some parents were described as being nearly hysterical with concern as the siege went on, there were a number who were reluctant to damn Mr Ducat. | Although some parents were described as being nearly hysterical with concern as the siege went on, there were a number who were reluctant to damn Mr Ducat. |
| The children waved to onlookers during the siege | |
| "I know him as a very good man. I know he will not harm my six-year-old daughter," one father, Jojo Abuyan, told Reuters news agency. | "I know him as a very good man. I know he will not harm my six-year-old daughter," one father, Jojo Abuyan, told Reuters news agency. |
| "In our own eyes, he's a real hero. He has been helping a lot of people in our community without expecting anything in return," Tondo resident Susan Ferol said. | "In our own eyes, he's a real hero. He has been helping a lot of people in our community without expecting anything in return," Tondo resident Susan Ferol said. |
| Manila's Mayor Lito Atienza described Mr Ducat as a "very, very passionate individual who has his own kind of thinking on the solutions to our problems." | Manila's Mayor Lito Atienza described Mr Ducat as a "very, very passionate individual who has his own kind of thinking on the solutions to our problems." |
| But former Manila police chief Senator Alfredo Lim said he had a history of seeking attention. | But former Manila police chief Senator Alfredo Lim said he had a history of seeking attention. |
| Mr Ducat is reported to have taken two priests hostage using fake grenades in 1989, in a row over a building contract. No charges were filed. | Mr Ducat is reported to have taken two priests hostage using fake grenades in 1989, in a row over a building contract. No charges were filed. |
| Were you caught up in events? Were you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Were you caught up in events? Were you in the area? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |