The day-care center owner who is holding hostage 29 pupils and four teachers inside a bus in Lawton, Manila asked Filipinos to light a candle in sympathy for his fight against government corruption.
"Sa pamamagitan ng isang kandila lamang, maipakita natin ang paglaban sa talamak na nakawan sa ating bansa (By lighting a candle, we can show that we are one in fighting chronic corruption in our country)," Armando "Jun" Ducat Jr. told DZMM by telephone.
"While generations of politicians change, we continue to suffer in poverty," Ducat said. "These politicians promise education, health and housing, but unless we stop corruption ... they will just feast on the budget."