KIDNAPPED PINOY SNEAKED INTO IRAQ, SAYS OFFICIAL
DAVAO CITY, November 4, 2004 (STAR) By Edith Regalado — The latest Filipino kidnapped in Iraq was an undocumented worker who reportedly sneaked into the conflict-torn country despite a government ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), labor officials said here yesterday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed yesterday the abduction of Roberto Tarongoy, 31, which came as Philippine authorities grappled with another hostage crisis in Afghanistan. And only four months ago, truck driver Angelo de la Cruz barely escaped a beheading in Iraq after the Arroyo administration capitulated to his kidnappers’ demands.
Tarongoy, an accountant working for a Saudi company catering food to American troops in Iraq, was seized in the Al Mansour district of Baghdad last Monday along with an American, a Nepalese and three Iraqis. Two of the Iraqis have however since been released.
A Davao native, Tarongoy managed to leave for Iraq without having been registered with the Southern Mindanao office of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).
There are also no records of his departure with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in the region.
"The most that we can do here is really check with the Bureau of Immigration when he (Tarongoy) exactly left the country," said POEA Region XI chief Francis Domingo.
OWWA-Southern Mindanao head Xenoria Caro said the matter is now with higher officials in Manila since there are no documents on Tarongoy at her office.
According to Domingo, Tarongoy likely slipped into the Middle Eastern country even after President Arroyo imposed a ban of OFW deployments last July.
Following confirmation of the abduction, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo assured the people that the government was working closely with authorities in Baghdad and United States officials to determine the fate of the hostages.
He admitted Manila cannot act on its own as other nationalities are also involved. The government’s decision, he said, will be based on whatever is deemed the best solution by all governments concerned.
"I have already instructed the Philippine embassy in Baghdad to take all appropriate measures to ascertain the condition of the Filipino and gather additional information on the situation, the abductors and their possible demands," Romulo said.
"Rest assured, the Philippine government is mobilizing its resources and is exerting all possible means to secure the safe release of Mr. Tarongoy," he said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping nor made any demands for the release of the hostages, an unnamed United States embassy official in Baghdad said in an Agence France Presse (AFP) dispatch.
Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said Tarongoy apparently slipped into Iraq in July, violating a government ban on Filipino workers which was imposed shortly after Iraqi insurgents abducted De la Cruz.
De la Cruz was freed unharmed after President Arroyo withdrew a small Philippine humanitarian contingent from Iraq early, as demanded by the insurgents.
Last week, another Filipino,Angelito Nayan, got entangled in a hostage-taking incident this time in Afghanistan where he works as an election volunteer for the United Nations.
Nayan and his two colleagues were abducted in Kabul with their militant captors demanding the removal of foreign presence in the country and for the US to free its Taliban-linked prisoners.
The deadline for the hostages’ execution supposedly lapsed last night after the hostage-takers belonging to a breakaway Taliban faction had it extended to allow more time for negotiations, an AFP report said.
The Philippine government said officials were coordinating closely with UN authorities on the ground. There was no confirmation that the kidnappers from a group calling itself Jaishul Muslimeen (Army of Muslims) had been contacted, or the victims located.
"There are people talking with our leaders. Whether those people are talking on behalf of the UN or the government, or both, I cannot say," Sved Khaleed, a spokesman for the group, told AFP by phone.
With another hostage dilemma hanging over its head, Malacañang called on the nation anew to turn to prayer for the safety of Tarongoy.
"Let’s pray for him," said Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye.
In a statement he later issued, Bunye disclosed the reactivated Philippine government crisis team, headed by special envoy to the Middle East Roy Cimatu, has already jumped into action to recover Tarongoy.
"Our crisis team is in place to verify information, take care of the family, put officials on the ground, establish back channels, and muster support from all sectors and informing our political leaders (of the developments)," he said.
"We will see this crisis through systematically and with sensitivity," Bunye reassured. "Government knows what to do and let us hope for the best."
As standard procedure in hostage-taking cases, Bunye said the President has designated the DFA anew as the official source of information in line with her policy of speaking "with one voice" on sensitive matters.
"The DFA is working with Baghdad (transition government) officials for his release," Bunye said.
Tarongoy and the other hostages were snatched by masked gunmen who stormed the offices of the Saudi Arabian Trading and Contracting Co. (SATCO) in the smart Mansour district, according to witnesses.
His family issued an emotional appeal yesterday to his captors for his release.
Tarongoy, who was said to have left for abroad last July 26, was reportedly recruited by the Manila-based JS Contractor. He was said to have been chosen among the many applicants for an accountant position last April. - With reports from Marichu Villanueva, Pia Lee-Brago, Mayen Jaymalin, Marvin Sy, AFP, Paolo Romero, Nikko Dizon, Edu Punay
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2004
by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved