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Philippine military and police said Wednesday that neither of them had received order to pull out the humanitarian contingent from Iraq despite a confusing statement from the foreign department.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Lieu. Col. Daniel Lucero and Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Superintendent Joel Goltiao told reporters that so far they have received no word from the government on the pullout of the troops, 43 soldiers and eight policemen.
This is apparently contrary to a statement issued by Foreign Secretary Delia Albert earlier Wednesday morning, saying "the headcount of the Philippine troops now in Baghdad from 51 is 43."
"The foreign ministry is coordinating the pullout of the humanitarian contingent with the ministry of national defense," she said.
Goltiao said the eight policemen are still doing their job, training Iraqi policemen in the country.
However, the Philippine Air Force said that two C-130 planes have been prepared to fetch the humanitarian team but they are also waiting for orders.
So far, the presidential palace has been silent on the reported pullout.
The 46-year-old trunk driver, Angelo de la Cruz, who has been in the capture of Iraqi militants for almost one week, was reportedly still in good conditions.
The Iraqi militants threatened to kill the hostage unless the Philippine government pulls out before July 20 the troops whose term will expire on Aug. 20.
(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2004)
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