Holy crap! Now the Phillipines!

[Isaac Brock]

This just in.
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/07/12/world/delacruz040712

Philippines to pull Iraq force 'ASAP' to save hostage
Last Updated Mon, 12 Jul 2004 22:51:30
BAGHDAD - The Philippines said it would withdraw its peacekeeping force from Iraq "as soon as possible," in accordance with the demands of the extremist kidnappers of Filipino Angelo dela Cruz.

Philippine Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Rafael Seguis read the statement for broadcast on Al-Jazeera, the Arab-language satellite television station, late Monday evening.


Relatives and neighbours continue their prayer vigil outside the house of Filipino hostage Angelo dela Cruz.
(AP PHOTO)
It was unclear, however, whether the troops would leave any earlier than the already scheduled pullout date of August 20.


FROM JULY 11, 2004: Deadline extended for Filipino hostage

Seguis also appealed to the abductors' humanity.
"I appeal to you and to your kind hearts as Muslims to please release Angelo dela Cruz so that he can return to his family and children," he said.

After originally vowing to "not bow to terrorist blackmail," the Philippine government made its apparent about-face as the Tuesday deadline set by the abductors loomed.

The kidnappers – a group calling itself Khaled Bin Al-Walid Squadrons, part of the Islamic Army of Iraq – on Sunday said they would kill dela Cruz if the Philippines did not pull its force out of Iraq by July 20.

The Philippines has 51 soldiers, police officers and health workers on a humanitarian mission in Iraq.

Manila originally said it would not extend the mandate of its force past August 20, after dela Cruz appeared last Wednesday in a televised video begging his government to withdraw its soldiers.

The country has stopped the deployment of its nationals in any capacity in Iraq. Some 4,100 Filipinos are believed to be working in U.S. military bases in Iraq as cooks and maintenance technicians.

Dela Cruz, a 46-year-old truck driver, was abducted some time around July 7.