Piss on the US bullies. The Philippines put their own citizens...

Piss on the US bullies. The Philippines put their own citizens first.



By Barbara Mae Dacanay

Bureau Chief

Manila: US ambassador to the Philippines Frank Ricciardone said he had warned the Philippines that the US was considering severing diplomatic ties if the South East Asian nation pulled out its troops from Iraq.

He told reporters after a meeting with Philippines Foreign Secretary Eduardo Ermita yesterday that the US was considering downgrading ties with a key ally whose moves to pull out were "disappointing."

"In a time of testing, when enemies demand that you kneel, I just ask you, please don't confuse your enemies or your friends," he said.

Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz, abducted in Iraq last week by a group calling itself the Khalid Ibn al-Walid Brigade, was declared "alive and safe" by a Filipino diplomat in Baghdad.

The kidnappers had threatened to execute the father of eight if Manila did not bring forward the withdrawal of its contingent by a month to July 20.