President Gloria Arroyo said Tuesday a Filipino hostage in Iraq had been freed, justifying the Philippines' decision to withdraw its tiny military presence from the war-torn country.
"I just spoke to him and his health is good, his spirits high and he sends best wishes to every Filipino," Arroyo said in a televised address.
Arroyo stressed she made the right decision to recall the troops a month early in response to a threat by kidnappers to behead 46-year-old truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.
"With over one million OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) in the Middle East and over eight million overall, my government has a deep national interest in their well-being wherever they live and work," Arroyo said.
"I made a decision to bring our troops home a few days early in order to spare the life of Angelo. I do not regret that decision. Every life is important."
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