by Guo Chunju     

    MANILA, July 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's new government has met its first severe test since Arroyo took oath as president last month after the latest abduction incident of a Philippine truck driver in Iraq.

    The Philippine government is exhausting all means to help free Angelo de la Cruz held hostage by militants in Iraq who threatenedto behead Cruz unless the Philippines withdraws its 51-member humanitarian contingent from the country within 72 hours, according to the video broadcast on Al-Jazeera television Thursday.

    Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Friday called for national solidarity and prayer for the safe release of Cruz.

    "The Iraq team is doing all that is humanly possible to get the victim home safely," Arroyo said in her speech before the Overseas Employment Summit 2004 held here, which was aired on radio and television.

    Arroyo said she would not comment on the situation "at this most crucial and sensitive point in time, when we have to withhold information on our moves to ensure the safety of the hostage."

    Philippine officials in the Middle East are reportedly seeking possible extension for the 72-hour deadline set by Cruz's kidnappers. They are talking to the Iraqi Islamic Party, a religious group which successfully intervened on the Philippines' behalf to free Francisco Pagkalinawan, another Filipino truck driver abducted in Iraq in April.

    Officials are also talking to Ahmed al-Sheik, editor in chief of al-Jazeera TV. Field correspondents of al-Jazeera reportedly have direct contact with the group holding Cruz.

    Cruz's family has appealed to Arroyo to give in to the demands of the Iraqi hostage-takers and at Cruz's hometown in the northern Philippine province of Pampanga, a vigil was held Friday to pray for Cruz's safety.

    As for the kidnapper's demand, the Philippine presidential palace is still waiting for the recommendation on the demanded pull-out of the Philippine troops from Roy Cimatu, head of the Middle East Preparedness Team which is tasked to look after the welfare of Filipinos in the Middle East.

    The Philippines, which has been a staunch ally in the US-led operations in Iraq, insisted on keeping its humanitarian contingents in Iraq even after several Filipinos were killed in separate attacks there. Enditem¡¡