Friday, July 16, 2004 Pinoy freed only when RP forces leave Iraq: captors
MANILA -- Iraqi militants said they will free Filipino hostage Angelo dela Cruz after the withdrawal of the last Philippine soldier from Iraq, so long as it takes place before the end of the month.
A statement issued in the name of the Islamic Army of Iraq and carried by Arabic television Al-Jazeera said the Philippine government has until the end of the month to withdraw all its humanitarian troops or see dela Cruz beheaded.
The Arabic news television also aired a videotape of dela Cruz assuring his family he will soon be freed and urged government to stick to a decision to pull its humanitarian forces out of Iraq.
The Philippine government's decision to withdraw its forces ahead of the August 20 schedule to save dela Cruz earned for the country a scolding from the White House, whose spokesman said the move sent "the wrong signal" to terrorists.
Dela Cruz, who was already wearing regular clothes in the message broadcast by Al-Jazeera, told his family "Wait for me, I'm coming back to you" in Arabic translation of his words.
The hostage, dressed in a black T-shirt, was seen speaking on the tape, but there was no sound.
Al-Jazeera also quoted dela Cruz as saying he was no longer wearing the infamous red prison overalls seen on former captives before their execution.
The Arabic news television said it also received another message from dela Cruz in which he thanked President Arroyo for her readiness to consider advancing the departure date despite strong US-led opposition.
The 46-year-old father-of-eight appealed to her to "stick by the decision and implement it," the television said.
Earlier Thursday, Ambassador Roy Cimatu, who is spearheading the negotiations for dela Cruz's release, told GMA television in an interview from Baghdad that government is "every optimistic" that he will be freed by his captors.
"We are waiting for his release and with our help and all our prayers hopefully...(he can be) reunited with his family," Cimatu said.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan, reacting to the Philippine government's move to pull out its troops to appease militants holding dela Cruz hostage, told reporters in Washington that "it's disappointing to see a decision that sends the wrong signal to terrorists."
"You cannot negotiate" with terrorists, McClellan added, confirming that "we understand that they have made the decision to withdraw their 51 troops ahead of schedule."
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters the decision was totally unexpected.
But the Philippines had stood beside the United States "as a friend and an ally on many, many occasions in the decades past, and so we look forward to continuing to work with the Philippines in all the areas where we can productively do that," Boucher said.
Foreign Secretary Delia Albert announced in Manila Wednesday that the troop pullout had begun, suggesting that eight members of the 51-member contingent had already left the war-torn country. (AFP)
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