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Wednesday, November 03, 2004
RP verifies identity of Pinoy abducted in Iraq
MANILA -- A Filipino who was among four people abducted in Iraq is believed to be an accountant working for a Saudi Arabian company catering food to American troops, sources said Tuesday.
They said Filipino diplomats in Baghdad were verifying reports that initially identified the man as Roberto Tarangoy.
A government official said Tarangoy is only being listed as "confirmed missing".
"There are no demands...nothing at the moment," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official said the man was "in the vicinity" of the area in Baghdad that was attacked Monday. He called his wife to say there was a "commotion" and that he was OK, but never called back and could not be reached Tuesday.
The official said Tarangoy left the Philippines in July and is not on the government lists of workers in Iraq, indicating he violated a government ban on further deployment of Filipino workers to Iraq, imposed after a Filipino truck driver was abducted there.
Labor Secretary Patricia Santo Tomas would only say Philippine officials have been told that one of the captives is a Filipino.
"A Filipino who lives near the Green Zone said a Filipino was seized," she said. "But they could not say who it was and they are asking us for a number of names. We have been searching the computers but have not found anyone."
Philippine officials held emergency meetings to discuss reports of the abduction, which surfaced as the government was dealing with the kidnapping of Filipino United Nations election worker Angelito Nayan and two companions in Afghanistan last week.
Angelito's siblings appealed to his abductors Tuesday to release their brother.
They also asked for continued prayers for Angelito.
An elder brother appealed to Angelito's captors to release him.
"He is a very good man with a high regard for our Muslim brothers and sisters here in the Philippines and throughout the world," said Bernard Nayan.
"He is actively involved in projects to benefit our Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao. He has never been involved in politics. He only wants to help others. In Allah's name and in the spirit of Ramadan, we appeal to the goodness in your heart," he added.
Afghan rebels abducted Angelito and companions Anetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland and Shqipe Habibi of Kosovo while they were on their way to the Intercon Hotel in Kabul last October 28.
The Afghan militia threatened to kill the three hostages unless UN and British troops leave Afghanistan and Muslim prisoners are freed from US jails in 72 hours. (AP/JMR)
(November 3, 2004 issue)
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