RIYADH, 21 July 2004 — Filipinos in the Kingdom heaved a sigh of relief at the release of Angelo dela Cruz, who was held hostage for about two weeks in Iraq.

“Fantastic. I salute President Arroyo for her decision to pull the troops out of Iraq. I salute Foreign Secretary Delia Albert, Undersecretary Rafael E. Seguis and all those who made strenuous efforts for the release of dela Cruz,” said Dr. Carlito Muhammad Ali Astillero, a community leader.

Romy Sinamban, from the same town as dela Cruz, said: “I am happy and thankful dela Cruz’s life had been spared.”

Dela Cruz and Sinamban are both from Mexico, Pampanga in the Philippines, and live just a short distance from each other. Dela Cruz lives in Buenavista and Sinamban in San Juan.

Astillero said every Filipino he met was in an upbeat mood when told about the happy ending to dela Cruz’s captivity. “When there is a crisis, Filipinos are usually united. There has to be a crisis, it seems, before we can unite,” he said. “Every Filipino here wanted dela Cruz to come home a free man.”

Philip Garcia, product manager at a ceramic company, said: “This is a good outcome. We have shown that not many Filipinos support US policies, and that it is only our government that is identified with the US and George W. Bush. It is good for OFWs working in the Middle East.”

Richard Bautista of Migrante International said he supported the outcome. “Good for Angelo and the Filipino people rallying for the pullout of Filipino troops from Iraq. I hope the critics of the Philippine government will realize that saving lives is better than supporting war.”

Filipino Golf Association (FGA) President Nelson de Leon said the government did the right thing in pulling out troops. “For once they showed national interest is paramount over what the US dictates.”

Immediately after Dela Cruz was held hostage, Filipino community leaders in Riyadh had petitioned President Arroyo to pull out the RP peacekeeping forces in Iraq.

“It’s good that he’s free but it is also sad our image in the international community has been harmed as a result of the troop pullout,” said Chris Alimunsurin, a Jeddah-based accountant.

“It (the release of dela Cruz) only shows that our government cares for us,” said Ismael Balawag, also in Jeddah.

Domingo Cabal, a mechanic, said he appreciates the government’s decision to save dela Cruz’s life. “I see it as a sign of the government’s care for the lowly OFWs.”

“I’m very happy that our president has done something to save the life of an ordinary worker. I can’t ask for more,” said Erik Bautista, a service crew worker in Dammam.

“President Arroyo made a good decision. You cannot restore the life of a hostage, once he’s killed. On the other hand, if you have failed to keep an international commitment, you can always make amends,” added Bing Reambonanza of the United Surigaonon group in Alkhobar.

— Additional input from Francis R. Salud and Raffy Osumo in Jeddah

and Dinan Arana in Dammam