Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada Monday called on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to pullout the humanitarian contingent from Iraq at the request of the Iraqi militants for the release of the kidnapped Filipino worker, Angelo de la Cruz.

The ousted president said that Arroyo's refusal to pull out from Iraq would be a sign to overseas Filipino workers (OFW) that her administration is only interested in the money OFWs send home than their safety.

De la Cruz's life is more important than keeping the Philippinecontingent there, he said, urging the government to withdraw the 51-member Filipino contingent in the war-torn Middle East country.

He also suggestED that the Philippines should still send another contingent to Iraq after the hostage is freed.

On the other hand, Former president Fidel Ramos argued that anycompromise to the Iraqi militants would result in more abduction of Filipinos in Iraq.

Ramos held that the government should not have disclosed the plan to withdraw the troops from Iraq on Aug. 20 for it can give the militants a bargaining chip.

Local Muslim leaders who had contacts with Iraqi leaders shouldbe activated to give a help in the resolution of the matter, he said.

The Iraqi militants, calling themselves the members of the "Khaled Ibn al-Walid Brigade" linked to the "Islamic Army in Iraq",Monday threatened to kill de la Cruz, a 46-year-old trunk driver working in Iraq for a Saudi-based company, if the Philippine government will not pledge to pull out its troops from Iraq beforeJuly 20 in 24 to 48 hours.

Despite the pressure from the public including Cruz's families,the government insists on its international commitment to Iraq, saying that it will stay the troops in Iraq until their scheduled return next month.

Under the shade of the hostage crisis, the Filipino humanitarian team in Iraq reportedly still remains in "high spirits."

Spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Daniel Lucero said that the 51-man humanitarian team were asked by the locals tostay to help rebuild the war-torn Middle East state.

Lucero refused to comment on the Iraqi insurgents' demand for the Philippine contingent to pull out in order to save de La Cruz,only saying "it's up to the government."

US Ambassador to Manila Francis Ricciardone earlier said in a TV interview that his government praised president Arroyo for her tough stance in a hostage crisis.

Ricciardone said that the US government was prepared to assist in any way to secure the release of de la Cruz.

The militants have demanded that Arroyo pledge to pull out a 51-man Filipino contingent in Iraq by July 20, or risk seeing the Filipino beheaded.

"We hope for a successful outcome of this. We dearly hope for the release of this poor Filipino, as for the Bulgarians and others," the US ambassador stressed.

Source: Xinhua