Manila Hostage Drama

MANILA, Philippines – A year in the cramped Manila City Jail has not tempered the views of this philanthropic engineer who, exactly a year ago, was at the center of a storm for hostaging 26 children from his own day care center in Tondo to air his feelings on politics and the state of education in the country.

Wearing a personalized “Stop corruption” yellow detainee shirt, Ducat, now 57 and sporting a beard, again said a mouthful, stressing that the government, now embroiled in controversies, should have heeded his calls for change.

“What hurts is that I was heard by the whole world but I was not heard in Malacañang. Nobody was listening, “ he said, referring to the hostage-taking incident as “madramang pamamahayag” (dramatic declaration).

The engineer admitted that he struggled to keep his hopes up for his country and his family, which suffered emotionally and financially when he was put behind bars.

His three businesses shut down two months after the incident, he said. Then, his heart began to trouble him.

“It seems there is no more hope, but I’m trying to be strong. Sometimes I ask myself why I got into this,” he revealed.

But even if he loses sleep over corruption issues plaguing the country, Ducat does not believe ousting President Macapagal-Arroyo or asking for her resignation was the solution.

“Bangungot yun (That’s a nightmare) because the people asking for it are the same ones who made Edsa 1 and 2 happen. This administration may be one of the greediest but replacing Ms Arroyo won’t necessarily bring about change,” he said.

His message to his countrymen, if they cared to listen? “Unite under one principle, go towards the same direction.”