Many sectors in the country -- from Luzon to Mindanao, including the Moro and communist guerrillas -- have trained their attention to only one issue these days: making an appeal to President Arroyo to order the return of the Philippine humanitarian contingent from Iraq in order to save the life of overseas Filipino worker Angelo de la Cruz. The call has been aired by many Filipinos since de la Cruz, a truck driver in Saudi Arabia, was snatched by his captors while driving a truck to Iraq on Wednesday. De la Cruz, 46, is in danger of being beheaded unless the Philippine government withdraws its 51-man humanitarian contingent from Iraq. On Monday several proposals from different quarters also came out in an effort to solve the impasse.
Meanwhile, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF ) has expressed its willingness to help the Philippine government in saving the life of de la Cruz. MILF peace panel negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said on Monday the Front has received appeals from Christian groups, militant organizations, and well-meaning Muslim and Christian individuals in Mindanao to intercede in behalf of de la Cruz. Iqbal said the groups are asking the Front to do whatever it can to help save the life of de la Cruz.
He clarified, however, that the task is not easy because the MILF has no link with the captors.
"It is up to the MILF central committee to decide how to help the hostage. This is a matter of utmost urgency where every second counts," Iqbal pointed out. However, he clarified that in calling for the freeing of the Filipino hostage, the Front would also call for the withdrawal of all foreign troops occupying Iraq, including the Filipino humanitarian contingent, in order to free the Iraqi people and give them back their full independence. In a separate statement, Communist Party of the Philippines spokesman Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal vowed rebels "will exert all effort to make sure that the head of the puppet [Philippine] government would also fall" if de la Cruz loses his life. |