Hostage Children freed in Phillippines

The standoff in the Philippines which saw more than 30 small children, and two teachers, held captive in a coach for hours appears to be over. The children aged between 4 and 6 were reportedly taken hostage by the director of their day care centre, Jun Ducat, during a school trip around Manila.

Ducat claimed he had an accomplice and they were armed with a sub machine gun, pistol and grenades. he wanted to highlight the lack of educational facilities for poor children in manila. He held police at bay all day insisting he would not set them free until night fell and there could be a candlelight vigil.

A little after 7pm Manila time the children were finally handed over to their waiting parents.

Copyright © 2012 euronews