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LET US REJOICE FOR ANGELO’S FREEDOM AND CONTINUE TO DEMAND AN END TO U.S. OCCUPATION
by PCPR
Wednesday, Jul. 21, 2004 at 3:37 PM
PRESS STATEMENT; July 21, 2004
The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) joins the whole nation in
rejoicing that Angelo de la Cruz was freed by Iraqi militants as of
yesterday.
WE REJOICE FOR ANGELO’S FREEDOM AND WE CONTINUE TO DEMAND AN IMMEDIATE END
TO U.S. OCCUPATION OF IRAQ. Ironically, the illegal U.S. invasion that cost
thousands of innocent lives and severe damage to infrastructure and historic
treasures, led the Arroyo government to justify that sending RP troops to
Iraq was to help build schools, roads and so on. The U.S. and its allies
shouldn’t have invaded Iraq in the first place.
We cannot praise Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for Angelo’s release. She is
the one responsible for risking the life of de la Cruz and other OFWs
through her support to the unjust, illegal and immoral U.S. war in Iraq.
Malacańang would not have pulled out the troops if not for the popular
uproar to do so. Entering office under a doubtful mandate, GMA had to prove
to the nation that she is capable of fulfilling her role as “President of
all the people” when the life of Angelo dela Cruz was at stake. Forced to
give in to the people’s demands, GMA “dismayed” the U.S. by announcing the
pullout of the 51-member RP contingent in Iraq. It was either this, or GMA
would further isolate herself from the people and lose whatever claim to
legitimacy she may have.
Three Filipinos have already died in Iraq and their families are now
complaining that the government is not doing enough to support them now. The
lives of millions of OFWs and the whole nation remain at risk because of
GMA’s support to the U.S. war on terror and illegal occupation of Iraq.
After Angelo’s safe return, how about the rest of Filipinos whose lives are
at risk because of continuing U.S. aggression in Iraq? Isn’t GMA supposed to
ensure that no Filipino would have to desperately seek job in dangerous
places abroad?
Yet, the debt-ridden government is dependent on the $8 billion annual
remittances of OFWs, and thus actively promotes its labor export policy.
The lesson of the Angelo de la Cruz hostage crisis is unmistakably clear:
the Philippine government must ensure stable jobs and income in the
homefront, and totally withdraw support to U.S. wars of aggression.
GMA pulled troops out of Iraq to save her own head and not Angelo’s. We do
not owe the safe return of de la Cruz to her, but to the voices of Filipinos
who pressed for the immediate pullout of RP troops. We celebrate this
concrete victory, albeit tactical, in the face of continuing threats to the
lives of OFWs in Iraq and the whole of Middle East.
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