A tourist bus with 32 school children and two teachers were hijacked by two armed men in front of the Bonifacio Shrine near Manila City Hall.
Initial reports said the police were chasing the two suspects who then boarded the bus reportedly with an undetermined number of foreigners.
Chief Supt. Reynaldo Varilla, Metro Manila police chief, said in a radio interview that that police were chasing the suspects when they boarded the bus.
One of the suspects introduced himself as Jun Ducat.
Television footage showed children waving from the bus window but then were prevented from doing so by the hijackers.
Varilla said negotiators have started talking to the hostage-takers while police are surrounding the bus.
Police said the schoolchildren on board were part of a two-bus group out for an excursion.
It was not clear what prompted the hostage-taking. (PNA) LAP/vcs/
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