Dozens of schoolchildren and two teachers held hostageby armed men on a school bus in Manilahave been released after a 10-hour stand-off with police.

The 33 hostages were released at 1100 GMT in thePhilippine capital after Jun Ducat, one of the three abductors, agreedto free them in exchange for press coverage of the surrender.

"I askthe forgiveness of the people of Parola," Ducat said via a public addresssystem attached to the bus shortly before releasing the captives.

"I didwhat I did because of my love for you," he said.

At least two people believed to be the hostage-takers wereescorted to police vehicles after giving themselves up.

Cipriano Querol, a chief superintendent, earlier told localtelevision that Ducat "will be in safe hands after he surrenders ...nothing will happen to him".