Singson says there is no politics, drama involved in his role in resolving the hostage incident

By Ronron
March 29, 2007

Administration senatorial candidate Luis “Chavit” Singson said Thursday that there was no political motivation in his participation in the other day’s hostage-taking of 26 pupils and three teachers in Manila City.

In a radio interview, Singson said all he wanted was to help in the resolution of the crisis for the sake of the children after he was contacted by one of the suspects, Cesar Carbonell.

Businessman Armando Ducat, Jr. held hostage the students and teachers of the Day Care Center he built in Parola Compound, Manila City to demand for educational and assistance for the graduates of his school. He also took advantage of the situation to air his grievance against the alleged massive corruption in the country.

Ducat yielded to authorities after releasing his captives after talking to Singson early Wednesday night. The drama dragged on for 10 hours.

“I was already aware that people would suspect my motivations for being there. That’s why I shunned attempts to interview me. My only purpose is to help,” Singson said in Filipino.

He disclosed that he learned of the incident at around 2:30 pm only after he was informed that his name was mentioned on the radio as among the persons the hostage-takers wish to talk to.

Upon arrival past 5pm at the site, Singson said he immediately conferred with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza and Metro Manila Police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla about his intention to help.

Singson said he first talked to Carbonell on the phone since the latter claimed that he has known Singson from the time he was still working as a photographer.

When Singson said he was willing to go inside the bus, Varilla expressed worries that Ducat could take him in as another victim.

But he said he insisted because he wants the kids to be set free.

Singson said he was also confident he will not sabotage the situation because he is used to such incidents, being a former chief of police in Vigan, Ilocos Sur back in his younger days.

“If I wanted to promote myself, I would have waved the Uzi and hand grenades when I stepped out of the bus for everyone to see… I would have granted interviews also. But I did not. After the incident, I immediately gave the firearms and grenades to the police and then I went home,” he said.

Singson said that from the time he stepped inside the bus at around 5:30 pm where the victims were held hostage, he observed that Ducat would not turn violent.

He said he was just worried about any accident that could lead to an explosion like the slip of the grenades from Ducat’s grip.

But Singson said that after Ducat’s request were granted, like the media access and the lighting of candles outside the bus, Ducat was prepared to talk about his surrender and exit plan.

“The person is not really a violent one. That’s my assessment of him. He just wanted to get his message across, and for the kids to get free education,” Singson said.

Ducat and Carbonell were subsequently arrested and brought to the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters.

Singson is among the 12 senatorial candidates of the administration’s Team Unity for the May 14 mid-term election./DMS