19 July, 2004

19 July, 201812 June, 2018 nzpinoy 0 Comment angelito dela cruz, filipino truck driver, in a nutshell, iraq, iraqi interim prime minister ayad allawi, pgma, philippine historical event, philippine humanitarian contingent, philippine troops in iraq, president gloria macapagal-arroyo, reconnecting with our roots, today in philippine history

TODAY IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY:

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.

Angelito de la Cruz was 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.

The pullout was made despite the pressure from Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and U.S. officials to reconsider withdrawing fearing a spark to further abductions by terrorists. 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.

(Ref: Philippine News Agency)

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