The Philippines today banned its citizens from working in Iraq after militants took a Filipino hostage and threatened to behead him unless Manila announces a withdrawal of its nationals from the Gulf state within three days.
Ministers met in emergency session today but made no decision on how to respond to the demand that the country's 50-stong humanitarian workers in what would be a symbolic blow to US efforts to stabilise the country.
The kidnapped man, Mr Angelo dela Cruz, was shown by Arabic television station Al Jazeera dressed in an orange jumpsuit, kneeling before 3 gunmen. Mr de la Cruz, who had been working as a truck driver.
Facing her first major test since winning a new term in May elections, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered the ban on workers heading to Iraq and sent her top Middle East envoy to Baghdad to assess the situation.
Militants have seized dozens of foreigners in recent weeks and beheaded a South Korean hostage last month after Seoul rejected their demands to pull out 670 South Korean medics and engineers from Iraq and drop plans to send in 3,000 troops.
A spokesman for Ms Arroyo said the government wanted to take a similar low-profile approach to that used by Turkey in securing the release of five hostages under threat of execution last week.
"It's very hard to make a policy statement," said Defence Secretary Mr Eduardo Ermita, adding that Ms Arroyo's decision would depend on the findings of her envoy, former general Mr Roy Cimatu.
The Philippines, a major recipient of US military aid, sent its team last year to assist in Iraq 's reconstruction. Manila has only committed to keep them there until August 20th, marking a year since the initial deployment.
At least 4,000 Filipino civilians also work there, many employed by contractors and working in US military bases.
Three Filipino workers have been killed in attacks by insurgents opposed to the US-led military presence in Iraq .
Government officials say Filipinos are probably the biggest single group of foreign workers in Iraq , with many not officially registered.