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Thursday, July 08, 2004
RP blocks workers going to Iraq after abduction (9:40 a.m.)
MANILA -- President Arroyo announced measures Thursday to stop any more Filipinos going to Iraq to work after an Arabic television station reported that a Filipino worker had been taken hostage there.
Arroyo had ordered the labor department to "completely stop the processing of workers bound for Iraq," spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview.
He said the government was in the process of trying to verify the identity of the man reportedly kidnapped and threatened with death.
Identity of the man is not yet known, Bunye said.
The gunmen, calling themselves the "Khaled Ibn al-Walid Brigade" linked to the "Islamic Army in Iraq," warned that the prisoner would be executed unless the Philippines withdraws its troops from Iraq within 72 hours.
Bunye did not comment on the gunmen's demand for a troop pullout.
Arroyo suspended the processing of workers wanting to go to Iraq following the killing of three Filipinos in Iraq bombings prior to the June 28 handover of sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government.
She has also offered free transportation for those Filipino workers wishing to leave the country.(AFP) |
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