A DAY-CARE centre owner armed with grenades and guns held 30 youngsters and teachers hostage on a bus, then freed them after a 10-hour standoff.

A man with a history of attention-grabbing stunts took a busload of young students and teachers hostage from his Philippines day-care centre and drove them to Manila city hall today.

Gunmen were today holding a busload of day-care students and teachers hostage in the Philippines, demanding better housing and education for the children.