Palace: We have not forgotten Tarongoy

The government has "not forgotten" Filipino accountant Roberto Tarongoy and is doing everything it can to secure his release from his Iraqi kidnappers, Malacañang officials said yesterday.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said negotiations for Tarongoy’s release, led by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis and his employer Saudi Arabian Trading and Contracting Co., have kept him alive since he was abducted last Nov. 1.

"The important thing is the latest we got from them (which) is... there is proof that, indeed, he is still alive," Ermita said in a news briefing. "Everyone can see that we are working hard for the safe release of Roberto Tarongoy."

Seguis, however, is running out of time. Tarongoy’s kidnappers have given the Philippine government until 11 p.m. today (Manila time March 12, 4 a.m.) to comply with their demand for the immediate pullout of all Filipino workers in Iraq and the cessation of military cooperation with the United States.

Defending Seguis from those critical of the way he is handling negotiations with Tarongoy’s kidnappers, Ermita said "negotiations are very sensitive. If the one handling it is not good, the execution might take place."

Ermita added that the last time they talked, Seguis assured him Tarongoy’s release was just a matter of time. He said negotiations were delayed by recent elections in Iraq since Tarongoy’s abductors were waiting for officials of the new government to assume their posts.

Seguis assured Tarongoy’s captors that the government has imposed a ban on sending Filipino workers to Iraq since truck driver Angelo dela Cruz was kidnapped in July last year.

Dela Cruz was later released after President Arroyo complied with his abductors’ demand for the pullout of the Philippine contingent from Iraq.

Seguis stressed that the Philippines has no more troops in Iraq and the government does not provide any logistic or security support to US military forces there.

"They want the Philippines to withdraw all (its) citizens in Iraq who are working with American troops and to stop the logistics support which the Philippines provides to the American troops. What I will do is convince them that their demands are being met" by the statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, he said.

Romulo appealed to Tarongoy’s Iraqi kidnappers to spare his life even if some Filipinos have defied the government ban.

"We hope that compassion and human kindness rule the hearts of those holding Robert, and that they do not harm him because others have defied our government’s ban on workers to Iraq," he said.

Seguis said the Jeish Al Mujahideen sent a video tape showing the 31-year-old accountant to Arabic television network Al-Jazeera, which aired it last March 7 at 11 p.m. (Manila time March 8, 4 a.m.). The Jeish Al Mujahideen claimed Tarongoy’s kidnappers sold him to them.

"I think it is the same group, they are just saying they passed him on to a political group," he said, adding that he and other negotiators are doing their best to secure Tarongoy’s release.

Diplomatic sources said Tarongoy was seen wearing an orange jumpsuit, a sign that his kidnappers are ready to execute him.

Romulo said the government would not issue any other statements so as not to jeopardize Tarongoy’s safety.

He said aside from implementing a deployment ban, the Philippine government also obtained the cooperation of Iraq’s neighbors to prevent Filipinos from crossing their borders into Iraq.

Romulo added that the government has been investigating and blacklisting Filipino companies and individuals caught violating the deployment ban.

Tarongoy, a native of Davao, was abducted more than four months ago along with six other co-workers in Baghdad’s upscale Mansoor district. The kidnappers eventually released four of the hostages, except Tarongoy and American Roy Hallums.

Meanwhile, Tarongoy’s relatives in Davao said they want to go to Iraq and appeal to his captors to release him.

Tarongoy’s younger brother, Eugene, said in a radio interview that "if the government will give us a chance, we will make an appeal" to his kidnappers.

Eugene, however, remained silent when asked if their family will ask the government to comply with demands for his brother’s release.

He also said while they are happy that Tarongoy is still alive, news of today’s deadline has saddened them.

"We are happy because finally, after a long time, we are assured that Robert is still alive. It is a big thing for us. We have been waiting for word and a video clip for a long time," Eugene said.

He added that they have resorted to prayers for his brother’s safe release. Tarongoy’s family and friends have been conducting prayer vigils at the family residence in Davao City and at different churches where he served as a facilitator for the Singles for Christ movement.

Eugene said their family is also praying for Seguis’ health and safety. "We know it has not been safe in Iraq and he is still there negotiating for Robert," he said. – With Pia Lee-Brago and Edith Regalado