Estrada apologizes to freed Belgians

Estrada apologizes to freed Belgians

MANILA (AP): President Joseph Estrada met on Thursday with two Belgians who were freed by kidnappers in the southern Philippines and apologized to the Belgian ambassador for their abductions.

Estrada said he was relieved Belgian land reform expert Lieven de la Marche and journalist Eric Bracke were unharmed and said he ordered government troops to hunt down the kidnappers.

Addressing Belgian Ambassador Roland Van Remoortele, Estrada said: "I'm sorry for the unfortunate incident. I hope this will not happen again."

Estrada thanked the Belgian government for providing funds for several projects in the Philippines, including a plan to dredge polluted Pasig River in metropolitan Manila.

De la Marche and Bracke were abducted on June 13 by three heavily armed men in a boat off Zamboanga city.