Filipinos cave in - to send troops home

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A Filipino hostage was expected to be freed Tuesday following the Philippine government's agreement to withdraw its forces early from Iraq, diplomatic sources in Baghdad said.

The sources said truck driver Angelo de La Cruz, 46, was to be released later Tuesday at an undisclosed location.

Manila assured the hostage-takers that its 50-member humanitarian contingent would leave Iraq before August 20, the sources said.

The abductors have demanded that Filipino troops leave by July 20.

Officially, the Philippine government was largely quiet Tuesday about the negotiations to secure de la Cruz's release. Philippine officials said they have been asked not to comment on the situation, saying negotiations were at a difficult and critical point.

"Let us leave the government to do what is necessary to save the life of an innocent Filipino and to uphold our nation's interest. It is not for us to judge and raise our voices now that Angelo's life hangs in the balance," said Ignacio Bunye, a Philippine presidential spokesman.

"This is the most sensitive point in the hostage crisis. We must unite behind Angelo's family, keep our peace and pray hard."

U.S. officials have stressed in recent months the importance of countries with hostages in Iraq not giving in to terrorists.

Vice President Dick Cheney said so repeatedly in April when he visited Tokyo while Japanese civilians were being held in Iraq.

Speaking to reporters last month at the NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said it was a mistake for countries to give in to the demands of kidnappers.

"It is not wise to allow yourself to be terrorized. It's not wise to acquiesce to threats and bullying and intimidation," he said. "Once you start down that road, it's a dead end."

At the time, Rumsfeld praised Japan and South Korea for not giving in to terrorist demands after some of their citizens were kidnapped in Iraq, and the defense chief criticized Spain for withdrawing troops from the country in the wake of a deadly train bombing in Madrid.