The Emirates embassy said Tuesday it has delivered the Filipino hostage freed by his captors in Iraq to his country's senior officials.

The UAE charge d'affaires Hammed Ahmed al-Shamisi said in astatement "we were surprised when the Philippine hostage Anglo dela Cruz was released in our embassy."

The Philippine deputy foreign minister and charge d'affaires were in the UAE embassy and they agreed with the UAE embassy to transport de la Cruz to the United Arab Emirates to make medical check-ups.

Source: Xinhua