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| Arabia |
| 3 times in Saudi, de la Cruz just got unlucky |
| 2004-07-09 |
| Like having to work in Saudi Arabia (3 times) was not punishment enough! I hope he gets back to his family in one piece. Angelo de la Cruzâs brood of eight children appealed to the government on Friday to negotiate for their fatherâs release. De la Cruz, employed by a Saudi-based company, was seized by Iraqi militants on Wednesday as he delivered crude oil to Iraq. In an interview, Judith de la Cruz-Carreon, 26, eldest daughter of the hostage, appealed to President Arroyo and other government agencies to help free their father. âWe are appealing to our beloved President to please, please help our father so that he can be brought home alive. He was only forced to go to the Middle East because it is hard to find work here. We want to be with him. Please have pity on us, President Gloria,â Judith told newsmen in Tagalog and Pampango between sobs Friday. Judith spoke in behalf of her family as Angeloâs wife, Arsenia, 48, was invited by Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) officials to provide detailed information on her husband. She said her father was forced to seek employment in Saudi Arabia, as he had been unemployed for at least two years when his last contract, also in the Middle East, expired. Judith said Angelo has been working overseas for more than nine years. He has been to the Middle Eastern kingdom three times. Angelo left last year for a two-year contract as a truck driver in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, his fourth visit. âWe have been telling him that he was too old to be working abroad, but he said that he is working to have the family house improved and save enough for a small business, then he would stop,â Judith said. Angelo sends P7,500 to P10,000 monthly to the family, and that provides for their needs. She said that their father also worked abroad so that four of the children, one in college, another in high school and two others in elementary, could finish their studies. Judith is the eldest child followed by Juliesis, 24; Jenielyn, 22; Jacqueline, 19; Joanna 16; Jerome, 11; Jerick, 6; and, the youngest, Jefferson, who at four, still could not speak as he is afflicted with Downâs Syndrome. Jacqueline left for Japan three months ago to look for a job. Besides his dreams for the family that he hopes to achieve with his employment overseas, Judith said her father had debts to pay, accumulated over the years when he was unemployed. Judith said Angelo was also able to buy his eldest son, Juliesis, a tricycle to help him earn a living. It has been a year and three months since Angelo left for Saudi Arabia on a job he got after more than two years of unemployment. He has not been home since. Judith said she and her mother Arsenia last talked to Angelo on Sunday. âHe was in a hurry then as he told us that he had a delivery to make to Iraq. He told us to call him after four days,â Judith said. However, they could no longer get in touch with him on Thursday, saying all they heard was the Saudi operator. It was later on that they learned about his capture on television. Members of Angeloâs family, relatives and neighbors appealed to everyone through placards to pray for Angeloâs safety and for his safe return as they are fearful that the fate that befell an American and a South Korean might happen to Angelo, unless the government takes immediate steps to resolve the situation. ... âWe are all praying for our fatherâs safety and we are appealing to everyone to please join us in prayers. We are praying that he be spared from the fate of the American and Korean who were beheaded,â Judith said, amid tears she and her brothers and sisters could no longer hold back... |
| Posted by:Anonymous4724 |
| #1 One thing is absolutely certain, his Saudi employer will not lift a finger on his behalf, though the Saudi Gov't might - y'know a big PR bonanza awaits them should they decide to try and then succeed. Big juju, Abbie. *hint hint* |
| Posted by: .com 2004-07-09 8:41:44 PM |