MANILA, July 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Filipino hostage Angelo de la Cruz said he would be returning home and thanked the Philippine government for its decision to withdraw its forces from Iraq, according to a video on Arabic television channel Al-Jazeera broadcast here by a local television Thursday.

    "Wait for me, I'm coming back to you," the ABS-CBN news channel broadcast the video in which de la Cruz was addressing his family.Al-Jazeera translated his remarks that he was coming home soon.

    The video also showed de la Cruz thanking Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for agreeing to withdraw the Philippine troops in Iraq and told his family not to worry about him, pointing out that he had changed clothing.

    The kidnapped truck driver wore a black T shirt instead of the bright orange garment he had worn previously and looked healthy.     

    De la Cruz thanked Arroyo for her decision and asked her to uphold it. "He sent a message of thanks to the Philippine president for its decision to withdraw its forces from Iraq and called on it to stick to its decision and carry it out," Al Jazeera quoted de la Cruz as saying.

    Iraqi militants have threatened to kill de la Cruz unless Manila withdraws its 43 soldiers and eight policemen by July 20, one month ahead of schedule.

    The Philippine government announced Wednesday a token pullout of eight of the Philippine humanitarian contingent members to avert the possible execution of de la Cruz by Iraqi militants.

    On Thursday, the Philippine military are still waiting for orders to pull out of Iraq in a bid by Manila to save the life of the 46-year-old de la Cruz, abducted last week as he drove into Iraq from Saudi Arabia by the group calling itself "Khaled Ibn al-Walid Brigade." Enditem