Ramblings' Journal

Filipino hostage update: "The Cave-In is still on"

Filipino civilian employee Angelo de la Cruz has been in the hands of AQ terrorists, who have threatened for the past week or so to behead him if his home nation did not withdraw their small (51 soldiers) force participating as part of the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq.

Frantically trying to obtain the release of a captive Filipino truck driver with the clock ticking down, the Philippines said Tuesday it would withdraw its tiny peacekeeping force from Iraq as soon as it can.

However, the statement, which followed all-night Cabinet consultations, was unclear as to whether Manila was advancing the pullout as demanded by the Iraqi militant kidnappers, or was sticking by its commitment to bring its 51-strong force home on Aug. 20 as planned.

The confusion may have been deliberate as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seeks to maintain her staunch support of the U.S.-led war on terrorism while avoiding a possible domestic backlash if Angelo dela Cruz, a 46-year-old father of eight, is beheaded.

"The Philippine government, consistent with its commitment, will withdraw its Philippine humanitarian contingent forces in Iraq as soon as preparations for their return to the Philippines are completed," Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said in a statement to a Filipino reporter in Baghdad.

Thanks, President Arroyo, for validating the "kidnap & behead" technique as a form of negotiation. Thanks for joining Spain in the "Let's embolden the terrorist" club.

Just damn.

Posted by mhking at July 13, 2004 12:10 PM