MANILA, 21 July 2004 — With the release of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz by his Iraqi captors, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday broke her self-impose silence and defended he action her government had taken.

Arroyo emphatically said she did not regret her decision to pull out the Philippine humanitarian contingent from Iraq in exchange for dela Cruz’s life — a decision slammed by the United States and other allies, which viewed it as a dangerous capitulation to terrorists’ demands.

Rebutting her critics, Arroyo said: “With over one million OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) in the Middle East and over 8 million (worldwide), my government has a deep national interest in their well being, wherever they live and work.”

Arroyo, looking as though a massive weight had been lifted off her shoulders, told the nation in a televised statement at about 5:15 p.m., “Our long national vigil ... is over.”

Dela Cruz, abducted by Iraqi militants from Fallujah bridge at 2 p.m. on July 4 (Iraq time) as he drove his truck carrying a cargo of fuel across from Saudi Arabia, was in tears in the end, witnesses said.

The circumstances of dela Cruz’s release were still unclear. But the announcement that he was finally free came a day after the last Filipino soldiers deployed to Iraq 11 months ago withdrew from that embattled country, after his captors had threatened to behead him.

“Maraming salamat po sa nagawang tulong nyo sa akin, eto po si Angelo dela Cruz (Thank you so much for your help, this is Angelo dela Cruz, ma’am),” were the first words uttered by dela Cruz when he called from the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Baghdad at 5:05 p.m. (Manila time).

Arroyo, who took the all on her Nokia mobile phone on speakerphone mode, was dressed somberly in a brown suit but her face lit up once she heard her province mate’s voice.

During his five-minute talk with the president, dela Cruz sounded like he was overwhelmed by what was happening around him or could not hear Arroyo, and at times could only mumble, “Opo, opo (Yes, ma’am, yes, ma’am).”

At one point, he also said: “Yes ma’am. I cannot hear you very well. Please pardon me if I had said something wrong while answering you, ma’am.”

Arroyo had to cut short their phone conversation because of an apparently choppy connection.

After putting down the phone, Arroyo raised both arms and cried “Praise God!” to the cheers of several officials in her office.

The Al-Arabiya television first broke the news of dela Cruz’s release at mid-afternoon in Manila, quoting sources in the Iraqi National Congress. The INC later said dela Cruz was freed in front of the UAE’s embassy in Baghdad about 11:30 a.m.

Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said the UAE had allotted one aircraft to fly dela Cruz directly to Abu Dhabi tomorrow for a medical checkup before he goes back home.

The first video footage of dela Cruz in freedom showed him looking meek and speechless, clasping his hands between his knees, and wearing slippers as he sat beside a distinguished-looking official of the United Arab Emirates.

The crew of the GMA 7 television network, which was apparently at the scene, said dela Cruz was in tears and that his hands were shaking.

“I just spoke to him. His health is good, his spirits high and he sends wishes to every Filipino for their thoughts and prayers,” Arroyo told the nation.

“To the family of Angelo, he will come home soon,” she said in Kapampangan for the benefit of her province mates.

Dela Cruz’s release from captivity ended a harrowing tale of a poor truck driver who left his family in Barangay Buenavista and flew across the world to find the fortune that could lift his wife and children out of poverty.

A few days after dela Cruz’s abduction, his captors — the previously unknown militant group Khalid bin Al-Walid — released a video showing him sobbing. In another video later, dela Cruz begged Arroyo to save his life.

Dela Cruz apparently came to within a hair’s breadth of being beheaded.

No Regrets

On July 12, his captors said they had taken him to his place of execution and given him food and water.

That was just about when the Arroyo administration backed down and said it was withdrawing its troops in Iraq as soon as possible.

Defending her move to withdraw the Philippine contingent, Arroyo said Wednesday: “I made a decision to bring our troops home a few days early in order to spare the life of Angelo. I do not regret that decision.”

She added, with a hint of warning to all other Overseas Filipino Workers: “Every life is important. Angelo was spared, and we rejoice. We are all rewarded for it, particularly his loving family and friends. But our people must also know that will not always be the case. Innocents will come into harm’s way, and circumstances may not allow such a successful outcome.”

Referring to how a simple man like dela Cruz welded the nation together, Arroyo said, “For Angelo, our nation — Muslim and Christian alike — united around our compassion for an innocent in a world of danger.”

“(He) has become a Filipino everyman,” she said.

“Your government worked tirelessly for his release; the nation prayed vigilantly for his well-being. ... I am grateful for the unnamed allies, Filipinos and foreigners, who helped facilitate the negotiations and extended goodwill,” Arroyo said.

She added: “It was a time of trial and a time of triumph. But it is also a time of sober reflection about the world in which we live and our obligation to our nation and to humanity.”

Arroyo paid tribute to the Philippine contingent she had withdrawn from Iraq, saying: “I am proud of the work we have done and the courage and determination displayed by our troops and workers there.”

But while dela Cruz had been freed, Arroyo also warned that “our happiness must be tempered by the awareness that we live in dangerous times.”

“Definitely no ransom was paid,” presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said, denying news reports that money changed hands to secure dela Cruz’s freedom. (Additional input from Inquirer News Service & AP)