23 August 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert stressed that the safety of Filipino workers overseas remains as the priority objective in the third pillar of  the Philippine foreign policy as she received at the DFA Mr. Angelo de la Cruz, the Filipino truck driver held hostage by insurgents in Iraq on 4 July 2004 and safely released on 20 July 2004 as a result of the successful efforts of the Philippine Government.

“Ang kaligtasan ng ating manggagawang Pilipino na naghahanap buhay sa ibang bansa ay patuloy na bibigyan ang buong pansin ng ating mga embahada at consulado,” Secretary Albert told Mr. del Cruz, adding that “ensuring the safety of  every Filipino worker abroad  is the heart of the third pillar of Philippine foreign policy – the assistance to OFW.”    The three pillars of Philippine foreign policy are national economy, national security and assistance to OFWs, which guide the foreign service corps in the promotion of the national interest.

Reflecting on the significance of this afternoon’s courtesy call, Secretary Albert said the “Angelo de la Cruz case has clearly defined for the Philippine foreign service corps the amount of the efforts they will have to exert to promote and protect the welfare of Filipino workers overseas and the extent of their commitment to the implementation of the third pillar in Philippine foreign policy.”     She called on all foreign service officers and staff “to remain vigilant in monitoring threats to the safety of Filipino OFWs and to promptly take the proper action that will keep them away from harm.”

Mr. de la Cruz called on Secretary Albert and other key DFA officials including Undersecretary for Special Concerns Rafael Seguis at 2:00 p.m., Monday, to thank them for their efforts and personal sacrifices to secure his safe release from the hostage-takers in Iraq.     “Taus puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat, nang dahil sa inyong tulong kapiling ko po ngayon ang aking pamilya,” Mr. de la Cruz said upon meeting the DFA officials.

During the call, Secretary Albert turned over to Mr. de la Cruz a cheque for some thirty thousand pesos representing his last earned salary including the salary during his captivity in Iraq.       Undersecretary from Migrant Workers Affairs Jose Brilliantes made representations with Mr. de la Cruz’s employer, a Saudi-based trucking company, to send over the salary for immediate turn over to Angelo.      Secretary Albert also gave Mr. de la Cruz a compilation of local and foreign news articles and editorial commentaries on the hostage crisis.

The call of Mr. de la Cruz was one of the last official functions of Secretary Albert as she prepares to turn-over the helm of the DFA to the new Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo on Tuesday, 24 August 2004.     Secretary Albert began the day at 8:00 a.m. by leading the DFA personnel in the regular Monday morning flag raising ceremony, pledge of loyalty to the Republic and the reading of the DFA Mission and Vision.    The morning event included a minute of silent prayer on the 21st death anniversary of Senator Benigno Aquino and the signing by the DFA choir of  “Ang Bayan ko.”

Later in the morning, Secretary Albert  met the Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries for her last regular meeting with top DFA officials where she thanked them for their valuable assistance and highly professional advice during her 8-month tenure as Foreign Affairs Secretary.    “I commend you and the entire DFA personnel for your professionalism and dedication to the service, you have given me very valuable advice and support during my nine-month tenure,” Secretary Albert said.

Madame Albert was appointed Foreign Affairs Secretary by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo  on 22 December 2003 succeeding the late Secretary Blas Ople.       Secretary Albert’s tenure is highlighted by the Philippine presidency of the UN Security Council from January to June 2004 which saw the passage of UNSC Resolution 1546 on the return of sovereignty to Iraq, the efforts of the Philippines to gain observer status in the Organization of Islamic Countries and the safe release of Angelo de la Cruz from his captors in Iraq.END