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.