July 19, 2004, Arroyo ordered the pullout of the Philippine humanitarian contingent out of Iraq
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What
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July 19, 2004
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President Gloria Arroyo ordered
the pullout of the Philippine humanitarian contingent out of Iraq to save the
life of a Filipino truck driver who was taken captive by Iraqi rebels.
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Angelito de la Cruz
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abducted
on July 4 of the same year while crossing the boarders of Iraq. The Iraqi
rebels threatened to behead him unless the Filipino peace contingent in Iraq
was recalled before the end of July of that year
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Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi
said he had spoken to Arroyo and urged her to "reconsider"
withdrawing forces because "we cannot give up to terrorism".
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U.S.
officials also have expressed dismay at Manila's decision, saying it could
spark further abductions by terrorists.
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After two weeks in captivity, De la
Cruz was freed unharmed on July 20, 2004, a day after the Philippine government
completed the withdrawal of its 51-member humanitarian contingent in
compliance with kidnappers' demands.
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De
la Cruz was first turned over to officials at the UAE Embassy in Baghdad
before he was transferred to the Philippine Embassy. He was flown to Abu
Dhabi for medical evaluation
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References:
Philippines News Agency
CNN World
http://kahimyang.info/
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