Tarongoy’s abductors extend deadline

Iraqi militants holding Filipino accountant Roberto Tarongoy hostage in Iraq have agreed to continue negotiations for his release as a deadline for his execution expired, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Philippine officials asked the militants to release Tarongoy unharmed, stressing their government does not provide any support forAmerican forces there.

"There was a stay in the execution," DFA spokesman Gilbert Asuque said.

He said the insurgents threatened to kill Tarongoy by 11 p.m. Friday in Baghdad (4 a.m. yesterday, Manila time). The insurgents did not set a new deadline, he said.

Asuque said the government’s chief negotiator in Iraq, DFA Undersecretary Rafael Seguis, called him up at 4:20 a.m. yesterday to "say that the deadline set by Tarongoy’s abductors is extended to an unspecified time."

He added that Seguis was informed of this latest development by intermediaries in contact with the kidnappers.

Tarongoy’s captors demanded the withdrawal of Filipino workers in Iraq and asked the Philippines to end its military cooperation with Washington, officials said.

"We do not have any military involvement in Iraq. We do not have any soldiers there," Asuque said. "We are not sending any support — logistics or security — to (United States) forces in Iraq. They (the Filipino workers) are there on their private initiative as employees."

Officials say about 6,000 Filipinos work in US military camps in Iraq, mostly as maintenance workers and cooks.

He also said Seguis is not discussing ransom with the insurgents amid talk that Tarongoy’s abductors had demanded $6 million for his release. He said the negotiations are being conducted through intermediaries — community, ethnic and political leaders.

"We need the time to convince them that the Philippines never participated in military operations in Iraq," Asuque said.

He also said Seguis’ team would try to explain to the kidnappers that the Filipino civilians still in Iraq were merely trying to earn a living and were not part of the US-led forces.

Asuque said the reports from the team in Iraq indicate Tarongoy is in good health.

At Malacañang, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye expressed relief over the extension by Tarongoy’s kidnappers. He said the government continues to do its best to bring the 31-year-old accountant back home alive, and called on Filipinos to continue praying for him.

"We thank God for this reprieve," Bunye said. "We must keep our faith that he will survive this ordeal."

During a media briefing at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, President Arroyo called for an end to speculations on Tarongoy’s fate.

"The less we talk about it, the better for you and me," she told reporters asking about the appeal made by Tarongoy’s parents to "heed the captors’ demand."

Tarongoy’s relatives in Davao City said they were relieved by the deadline extension and hopeful "that somehow it would lead to his eventual safe release."

The Tarongoys held a prayer vigil at home as the deadline drew near before dawn yesterday, when they received news of the reprieve from DFA officials.

Parishes in Davao City held Masses and the local Muslim community also prayed for Tarongoy’s freedom.

Tarongoy, an accountant for the Saudi Trading and Contracting Co. that does catering for the Iraqi army, was kidnapped on Nov. 1 along with American Roy Hallums from their office in Baghdad’s Mansour district after a gun battle that killed an Iraqi guard and an attacker. A Nepalese and three Iraqis were also abducted but later freed.

On Wednesday, DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo said the Arabic Al-Jazeera television network had obtained a video of Tarongoy, who appeared well but sought government help.

The video was allegedly sent by the Jeish Al-Mujahideen, a group claiming to fight for a political cause. They claimed Tarongoy’s kidnappers sold him to them, but Seguis believes the kidnappers and the Jeish Al-Mujahideen are one and the same.

Diplomatic sources said Tarongoy wore an orange suit similar to those worn by past hostages before being executed.

Tarongoy’s parents, Tomas and Isabelita, appealed in a letter to Mrs. Arroyo to "heed the captors’ demand" to free their son by making a statement withdrawing support for US policy in Iraq.

President Arroyo withdrew a small humanitarian contingent in July last year to save the life of civilian truck driver Angelo dela Cruz, who was held hostage by Iraqi militants. — Pia Lee-Brago, Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado, AFP