Manila Hostage Drama

MANILA, Philippines -- Their “Sir Ducat” may still be in jail, but for around 400 children of the Musmos Daycare Center in Manila’s Parola compound, it’s back to school once again.

Seated in small plastic chairs suited for their tiny frames, the uniformed children waited patiently as their mothers fussed and their teachers scurried about for the early morning program Monday that signaled the start of classes.

Loud dance music blared and made a distant memory of the hellish episode in March, when 26 wards, some from the center, and three teachers were held inside a bus by the daycare owner, Armando “Jun” Ducat.

The kids were unharmed and freed after 10 hours, but the armed Ducat and his companion Caezar Carbonell were charged with serious illegal detention, a nonbailable offense. The two are now detained at the City Jail.

“I don’t think they did anything wrong. Maybe they just wanted to express their sentiments to the government,” said Agnes Cabugayan, mother of one of the children held hostage.

Cabugayan was one with other parents who threw their full support behind the hostage takers by executing affidavits that they were not interested in suing them.

She said her 7-year-old daughter, a Grade 1 student at the Rosauro Almario Elementary School in Tondo, was doing “okay” and did not seem to be affected by the incident.

She said she and her husband eventually forgave Ducat. “He’s sincere and also helps many others,” Cabugayan added.

This year, the daycare center admitted 420 students, compared with last year’s 300, added two teachers to their staff, and has rented a two-story unit to accommodate the growing number of students.