By JOJO DUE
TODAY Correspondent
MEXICO, Pampanga - Angelo de la Cruz’s brood of eight children appealed to the government on Friday to negotiate for their father’s 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.
“We 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,” Judith told newsmen in Tagalog and Pampango between sobs Friday.
Judith spoke in behalf of her family as Angelo’s 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.
“We 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,” 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 Down’s 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.
“He 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,” 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 Angelo’s family, relatives and neighbors appealed to everyone through placards to pray for Angelo’s 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.
One placard bore the inscription: “Madam President, nasa kamay mo ang kaligtasan ni Angelo. Kahit mahirap lang kami, sana pakinggan ang aming panawagan.” Other placards called on the government to ensure Angelo’s well-being.
“We are all praying for our father’s 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,” Judith said, amid tears she and her brothers and sisters could no longer hold back.
Meanwhile, Gov. Mark Lapid of Pampanga, who was among the first government officials to visit the de la Cruz family, said that besides the assistance the provincial government can provide them, there is nothing else they could do but wait for the national government’s decision.
“It is only Malacañang which can decide on the issue. We are waiting for the instructions of the President. But at the same time we are appealing to the President to help the family,” Lapid said in an interview.
He said it was only Friday that he, as well as the family found out that the hostage is a cabalen after seeing him several times on television and hearing about him in the news.
Lapid said he has already organized a Pampanga-wide prayer and candlelight vigil among local governments and residents, and has coordinated with Pampanga Archbishop Paciano Aniceto for Mass and prayers for Angelo at the provincial capitol.
“We should not take rash actions or drastic measures such as protest rallies because the government is already working on the incident. What we should do is pray for his safety,” Lapid said.
Lapid initially gave the family P20,000 in financial assistance and food from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
Mexico Mayor Teddy Tumang also appealed to President Arroyo to help de la Cruz
As deadline nears, Roy clueless on Angelo
A few hours before the deadline set by militants to behead Filipino hostage Angelo dela Cruz expires, Special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu reported no breakthrough yet in the government's efforts to free the victim.
Cimatu, who is in the United Arab Emirates and was tasked by the President to negotiate for the release of de la Cruz, declined Friday to reveal more details of the slated negotiations for the release of dela Cruz. He said he will proceed to Baghdad, Iraq Saturday for the negotiation.
Al-Jazeera television, which aired the video of dela Cruz being held captive by the rebels, reportedly have contacts with the Iraqi militants.
Cimatu said he has not yet received information of the whereabouts of dela Cruz and his captors.
De la Cruz, who is employed as a truck driver for a Saudi Arabian company, was driving a supply truck to Baghdad when kidnapped some 50 kilometers from the Iraqi capital Wednesday evening. Militants from the Khaled bin al-Waleed Corps of the Islamic Army in Iraq threatened to behead de la Cruz if the Philippine government will not pull-out its peacekeeping force from Baghdad and nearby areas.
The Department of Foreign Affairs Friday clarified that the hostage crisis involving Filipino contract worker Angelo de la Cruz is "not a race against time."
TV Patrol
