Filipino Hostage Gains His Freedom

Insurgents in Iraq freed a Filipino lorry driver hostage yesterday, less than 24 hours after Manila defied international criticism and withdrew its 51-member humanitarian force to prevent his execution.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the Philippines president, announced the release after speaking with the former captive, Angelo De la Cruz.

"I'm happy to announce that a long national vigil ... is over," she said. "I thank the Lord Almighty for his blessings. I just spoke to [De la Cruz]. His health is good, his spirits high and he sends his best wishes to every Filipino for their thoughts and prayers."

Mr De la Cruz's family, many of whom live in Buenavista, 55 miles north of Manila, celebrated as they watched the presidential announcement live on television.

"Thank you for saving Angelo, to beloved Gloria and God Almighty ... Thank you, Philippines," his sister Nelia said to journalists.

The family's spirits had been raised prematurely last weekend when government officials said Mr De la Cruz, 46, had been freed.

Ms Arroyo said she did not regret her decision to put the interests of her alliances with the US and Australia second to those of the powerful lobby of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

"A father of eight, Angelo has become a Filipino everyman, a symbol of the hardworking Filipino seeking hope and opportunity," she said.

"With over a million OFWs in the Middle East and over 8 million Filipinos the world over, my government has a deep national interest in their well-being, wherever they live and work."

Analysts believe Ms Arroyo, who has just been elected by a narrow majority, was worried by street protests if Mr De la Cruz was harmed.

Mr De la Cruz, who was kidnapped near the town of Falluja a fortnight ago while delivering fuel from Saudi Arabia, was to be driven to the United Arab Emirates for medical checks before being flown home.

He told Philippine television he had not thought much about the future.

"My only ambition and the only wish I ask of God is to be able to help my children finish school and to give them a good future," he said. "Maybe I will just go back to my work as a driver."

He will probably be able to fulfil his goals. He has been promised a job at home paying the same salary as he was earning overseas, a house, a plot of land and scholarships for his children.

The captors, the Iraqi Islamic Army, had promised to execute him if Philippine troops were not withdrawn by Monday. The troops had been due to leave by August 20.

The Iraqi government and Washington have criticised the Philippines move. Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, said at the weekend that the decision "has set a bad precedent".

The top US general in the Middle East, John Abizaid, told reporters yesterday: "It is regrettable we lose a member of the coalition and regrettable countries are making decisions that would appear to be appeasing terrorists, as opposed to standing up to them."

Opinion in the Philippines has been split evenly over whether the government should have caved in to the kidnappers' demands.

In an attempt to rebuild its tough-on-terror credentials, Manila has warned Communist insurgents at home who kidnapped two soldiers four months ago that there will be no negotiation or climbdown.