Narrow escape - Angelo de la Cruz arrived home

Updated: 2004-07-22 10:50

Angelo de la Cruz, a Filipino truck driver freed by Iraqi militants, waves upon arriving at the Manila international airport July 22, 2004. de la Cruz arrived home to a hero's welcome on Thursday as Manila started to count the diplomatic cost of its decision to withdraw troops from Iraq to save him from beheading by the militants. The words on his shirt translate into "I am Filipino".  [Reuters]

Angelo de la Cruz (C), a Filipino truck driver freed by Iraqi militants, hugs his brother Willie (R) upon his arrival at the Manila International airport July 22, 2004.  [Reuters]

Freed Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz is reunited with his wife Arsenia (R) after arriving at an Abu Dhabi hotel following his release from captivity in Iraq July 21, 2004. De la Cruz, freed by militants after his country withdrew its troops from Iraq, arrived in Abu Dhabi Wednesday for medical tests on his way home. Picture taken July 21, 2004. [Reuters]

Freed Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz is reunited with his wife Arsenia (R) and brother Jessie (L) after arriving at an Abu Dhabi hotel following his release from captivity in Iraq July 21, 2004.  [Reuters]

Freed Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz, flanked by his country's undersecretary of foreign affairs Rafael Saguis (2nd L), is welcomed by United Arab Emirates officials at Abu Dhabi's airport following his release from captivity in Iraq July 21, 2004. [Reuters]