Kidnapped Filipino's family pleads with Arroyo to pull troops from Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040709/ts_afp/iraq_philippines_hostage&cid=1503&ncid=1473

MEXICO, Philippines (AFP) - The family of a Filipino held hostage in Iraq (news - web sites) made an emotional appeal to President Gloria Arroyo to bow to the kidnappers' demands and withdraw Philippines troops from the shattered country.


"Please pull out so he can be safe with us," kidnap victim Angelo de la Cruz's 15-year-old son Ulyses said in a quavering voice in a television interview.


As the clock ticked closer to a Sunday deadline imposed by the kidnappers, the hostage's wife, children and father were bussed into Malacanang presidential palace to deliver their appeal in person to Arroyo.


The president said she was doing everything possible to secure the release of the 46 year-old truck driver, who was abducted as he drove into Iraq from Saudi Arabia, where he has been working for 14 months.

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[noahmijo]

1. I'm sorry but I wasn't aware the Phillipines sent troops...

Aid workers maybe but troops?

[FreakinDJ]

2. Seems the Philippine Govt. is talking to the captors

Pray for De la Cruz - GMA
Gov't trying to negotiate with captors of Filipino driver

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday urged the Filipino people to pray for the release of Angelo de la Cruz, the contract worker threatened with beheading by his Iraqi captors last Wednesday.

At the same time, she justified the imposition of a news blackout on the negotiations for the freedom of De la Cruz as special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu works out a deal with the worker’s captors.
The Iraqi militants holding De la Cruz have demanded that Arroyo pull out a military humanitarian mission stationed near Baghdad within 72 hours from the announcement of the worker’s captivity last Wednesday.

It is not known how Cimatu would cut a deal on the heretofore unknown anti-US occupation Islamic group holding De la Cruz even as other envoys say a link may be established through AlJazeera, the satellite channel that aired the videotape of the abducted worker.

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN2004071013770.html

The US govt. is holding a 30 million dollar commitment over their head for training and other improvements for the Philippine military. If GMA refuses to pullout and give into the wishes of the US it could spark attacks on American visitors to the country

[Moderator]

3. FreakinDJ

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