RP to downsize peacekeeping force in Haiti, Liberia

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is downsizing its peacekeeping contingents to Haiti and Liberia since the security situation in the two conflict-torn countries has improved.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deputy chief Lt. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang said the 165 Filipino officers and soldiers in Liberia and 154 in Haiti would be reduced to 135 in each contingent by order of the United Nations.

Maclang welcomed the batch of UN peacekeepers that had just completed their six-month tour of duty from the two countries.

Aside from the stabilization of the peace and order situation in the two countries, Maclang said the global financial crisis was among the reasons for the downsizing of the contingent.

“Probably it’s one of the reasons, improved security the (two) nations have established, and then another one is the economic crisis felt by most of the nations, of course UN is not exempted from that,” he said.

Maclang explained the UN dictates the number of peacekeepers a member-country should send to mission areas and the decision to cut the size of the Philippine contingent came from the UN.

A UN peacekeeper receives thrice their base pay as compensation.

Liberia, a West African nation, is struggling to move forward after years of conflict brought about by violence in the diamond trade.

Haiti, on the other hand, is still torn by factional fighting and anarchy.

The Philippines, as part of its commitment to UN peacekeeping efforts, has sent troops to Haiti since 2004 and to Liberia since 2003.

The AFP has participated in peacekeeping missions in Vietnam, the Congo, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Sudan, and East Timor. – James Mananghaya