RIYADH, 11 July 2004 — Overseas Filipino workers in the Kingdom had mixed reactions to the announcement of the Philippine government that it will pull out its 51-member peacekeeping contingent in Iraq.
The announcement was made after Iraqi insurgents threatened to behead Saudi-based Filipino driver Angelo dela Cruz, whom they had held hostage, unless the Philippine force is pulled out of Iraq.
The Iraqi insurgents’ threat was made in a tape released last Wednesday.
“I hope it will save the life of Dela Cruz, whose family has been very nervous,” said Perla S. Vega in Jeddah.
She said the whole country was praying for Dela Cruz’s safety and that OFWs all over the world were asking the Arroyo government to do something to save Dela Cruz.
In Riyadh, OFW Congress President Alex Veloso-Bello said: “Filipino community leaders in Riyadh met last Friday to discuss Dela Cruz’s situation, and we sent an open letter to President Arroyo through Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla, asking her to act now before it’s too late.”
However, he expressed doubt whether the announcement will help.
“The Iraqi insurgents’ demand is for an immediate pullout, not on Aug. 20 when the peace contingent’s mandate expires,” Bello said.
The peace contingent is participating in civic projects to help the 160,000-strong foreign force.
Philip Garcia, production manager for tiles at Saudi Ceramics, said Arroyo should have pulled out the force a long time back.
“We actually don’t benefit from the contingent’s deployment in Iraq,” he told Arab News.
In Alkhobar, Buddy Alpuerto said he felt the Filipinos should stay in Iraq. “It will be a sign that we have buckled under the threat of terrorism. If we grant the Iraqi insurgents’ demand, it will serve as a precedent. They might resort to the same tactic again in the future if we show that they can have their way by resorting to terrorism,” he said.
In the meantime, Foreign Affairs spokesman Gilbert Asuque has announced in a radio interview that President Arroyo’s special envoy, former Gen. Roy Cimatu, had arrived in Baghdad and had met with an intermediary with contacts among the kidnappers.
The Philippine government has also asked local and Middle Eastern leaders to help secure the release of Dela Cruz.
“We have talked to the religious leaders in Indonesia, Malaysia, Libya and Egypt to work for (his) freedom,” Asuque said.
Arroyo has also barred any more contract workers going to Iraq but a government statement does not mention plans to have Filipinos there return home.
