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Sunday, January 16, 2005
Government still has no word on Tarongoy
By Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO CITY -- Its been two months and a half since Dabawenyo accountant Roberto "Bobby" Tarongoy was abducted by Iraqi militants in November last year and there has been no update yet on his whereabouts.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa), the office that handles Filipinos working abroad, admitted being clueless on the status Tarongoy's search.
His family avoided media interviews following advise of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Sequis.
Owwa 11 Chief Zenobia Caro said they monitor Tarongoy's case only through newspaper and television reports.
Caro said it is the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that has the details about the status of the negotiations for the release of Tarongoy from the hands of his captors.
"Ang DFA na kasi ang may information regarding the ongoing negotiations para sa paglaya ni Bobby. As what I have read in newspapers, DFA hopes that Bobby will be released after the elections in Iraq," Caro said.
An election in Iraq is set on January 31.
Tomas, father of Tarongoy, said Seguis assured them that the government is doing its best to rescue Bobby from his abductors.
The DFA said earlier Tarongoy is still a captive of the Iraqi militants.
DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo said the Philippine crisis management team and Team Iraq continue to work for the safe release of Tarongoy.
"As we remain committed to secure the freedom of our fellow countryman, we in the DFA have high hopes that our efforts would bring positive results in the end," Romulo said.
"But what is definite is that the resources and manpower of the department are in place and will be directed for the safe release of (Tarongoy)."
He also said the DFA is monitoring the deployment of Filipino workers in the Middle East to make sure no one crosses over to Iraq.
Ambassador Gilbert Asuque, spokesman for the DFA, acknowledged that they do not know where Tarongoy is being kept.
"As of this moment there are no new developments on the case of Tarongoy, but the DFA continues to monitor the efforts being initiated by the crisis management team in Iraq," he said.
Philippine charge d' affairs to Iraq Ricardo Endaya said the non-negotiable US policy towards terrorists is making the job of securing Tarongoy's safe release more difficult for the government.For Davao bisaya stories.Click here.
(January 16, 2005 issue)
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Health team notes zero meningococcemia case last week