Sunday, July 11, 2004 Across faiths, prayers, SMS ring out for Pinoy's safety By Jovy S. Taghoy
CEBU CITY -- The plight of Filipino hostage victim Angelo de la Cruz in Iraq drives home the poverty that forces our countrymen to work and risk their lives abroad, rather "than die in poverty and hunger here," a church leader commented Saturday.
"It is a heartbreaking plight. (De la Cruz) highlights the country's real situation," said Pastor Carlos Moncada of the Jesus is Lord (JIL) fellowship. Moncada is also the regional coordinator of Barug Sugbo.
Moncada hopes that President Arroyo, "guided by the power of the Holy Spirit," will have the political will and courage to decide what is just and proper for the welfare de la Cruz and thousands of other overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
About 30 members of JIL and Barug Pilipino initiated a prayer vigil last Friday night until Saturday morning asking for God's intervention that de la Cruz would be spared from death.
The prayer vigil was first held at the Pacific Grand Villa, Lapu-Lapu City from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The group then proceeded to the former jai alai building in Basak, Cebu City, which is now the worship house of JIL. The prayer vigil lasted until 3 a.m. Saturday, Moncada said.
Similar vigils were held in other parts of the country as Filipinos waited for news from Iraq. When the news came, it sounded like an answered prayer.
Hadji Nashir Ismael, former chairman of the Visayas Regional Muslim Council for Peace and Development, shared Moncada's sentiment.
In a separate interview, he said the government should act on the demand of the Iraqi terrorists who took hostage de la Cruz, who has worked as a driver in Saudi Arabia for a year.
One in prayer
The Philippine Government, though, refused to yield to the pressure for the withdrawal of Filipino troops from Iraq.
Ismael, who is president of the newly organized group, Panaghugpong sa Banwang Bisaya ug Mindanao para sa Kauswagan ug Kalinaw, said he is apprehensive that like any other kidnap victims of the Iraqi terrorists, de la Cruz would be beheaded if the government defied the demand.
A random check of some Catholic churches in Cebu Saturday showed that several individuals offered prayer intentions during masses for the safety of de la Cruz.
A text message, "Let us pray for Angelo de la Cruz, a Filipino hostage in Iraq who may beheaded anytime," was also circulated.
Earlier, more than 4,000 priests who recently concluded the National Clergy Congress launched a signature campaign to help save the life of de la Cruz.
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