Via Michele Malkin, comes news that the Philippine government may have paid ransom for the release of hostage Angelo de la Cruz.
A ransom of $6 million was offered and paid out to the Iraqi rebels holding Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz hostage, to ensure his release before President Arroyo's scheduled State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 26, a high level Philippine intelligence officer told the Tribune yesterday.This offer was alleged to have been approved by the President herself, who then tapped Malaysian emissaries for the job, the intelligence officer, who asked for anonymity, said.If the story pans out, I'd say it's well beyond "dangerous" and into Jacques Chirac territory - actively conspiring against the interests of all of the coalition countries.Of the $6-million payoff, $5 million was shouldered by Malaysia and $1 million by the Landbank of the Philippines, the officer added.
An Asian diplomat, also on condition on anonymity, held the view that this was a very "dangerous" move made by the Philippine government since Mrs. Arroyo has, by negotiating with terrorists on a financial recompense level, opened up the possibility of more kidnap groups in Iraq as well as in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East seeing the overseas Filipino worker as "easy prey" for them.
As much as I'd like to believe it's not true; given the actions of the Philippine government to date in this crisis I have a hard time dismissing the report. I wondered when this was going to blow-up in their face. It appears that time will be now...
President Arroyo, if the story is true, has just become a major state sponsor of terrorism. From Coalition partner, to Axis of Weasels, and finally to Axis of Evil in less than a month...
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War On Terror
Comments (8)
When you think about it, th... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Jeff | July 19, 2004 7:51 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
When you think about it, the Philippines are really the French of the South Pacific.
1. Posted by Jeff | July 19, 2004 7:51 AM |
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Posted on July 19, 2004 07:51
2. Posted by -S- | July 19, 2004 10:58 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
If true, yes, beyond dangerous, just terrible, paying money for hostages (a hostage, in this case).
The behavior by terrorists is just so hideous as to require a new approach by humankind and it's not a response that many people can comprehend or accept: toughest love possible, which means, not providing terrorists with anything that they demand, regardless. Otherwise, well...think about it.
2. Posted by -S- | July 19, 2004 10:58 AM |
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Posted on July 19, 2004 10:58
3. Posted by Dale | July 19, 2004 11:23 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Still shaking my head in disbelief and asking "...What have you done?!."
I truly do not believe they fully comprehend what has happened. With sorrow in my heart I must say they have opened Pandora's box and Malacanang is looking into a national nightmare.
Already, families of soldiers held captive by the NPA in the Philippines are asking Malacanang to make concessions to save their loved ones.
The end of this story will certainly not be "...and they lived happily ever after."
3. Posted by Dale | July 19, 2004 11:23 AM |
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Posted on July 19, 2004 11:23
4. Posted by dario | July 19, 2004 12:03 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Instead of money, maybe next time they will demand plastic explosives and guns. What would they do then? "Pay"?
4. Posted by dario | July 19, 2004 12:03 PM |
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Posted on July 19, 2004 12:03
5. Posted by Corey | July 19, 2004 1:51 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
HE IS A TRUCK DRIVER!!!!!!! A TRUCK DRIVER!!!!!!! I guess that doesn't matter to some people, but for chrissake, a single man, especially one as insignificant as a truck driver, should not be "purchased" for 6 million dollars and at the expense of international policy. How funny is it that a country as internationally insignificant as the Philippines could have (if true) just caused the war on terror to last about 20 more years than it might have over something as insignificant as a truck driver?
5. Posted by Corey | July 19, 2004 1:51 PM |
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Posted on July 19, 2004 13:51
6. Posted by Boyd | July 19, 2004 3:15 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Jeez Corey, do you think you could be any more insulting? Could you describe the curves where the value of a particular class of individual and the amount of money to be paid makes this an acceptable practice?
6. Posted by Boyd | July 19, 2004 3:15 PM |
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Posted on July 19, 2004 15:15
7. Posted by Dave in Texas | July 19, 2004 7:41 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Yeah, I know, the value thing. But if I were a taxpayer in the Phillipines, I'd be pretty pissed right now.
Not to mention declaring open season on every other Filipino around the world.
7. Posted by Dave in Texas | July 19, 2004 7:41 PM |
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Posted on July 19, 2004 19:41
8. Posted by BoDiddly | July 19, 2004 10:42 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Also seems that I recall that the Phillipines were the benefactors of a whole lot of U. S. aid a few years back. I get the feeling we're buying bullets for the terrorists, albeit indirectly . . .
Corey does raise a question, albeit indirectly--one wonders why a truck driver is worth this much to the Filipino government . . . perhaps a convenient way to cover monies that were already given to the terrorists? I know, I know . . . just what we need: more conspiracy theories, but I did find myself wondering just that.
8. Posted by BoDiddly | July 19, 2004 10:42 PM |
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Posted on July 19, 2004 22:42