Freed Filipinos back on UN duty in 2 days

MANILA, Philippines - The 21 Filipino peacekeepers seized in the Golan Heights and later freed by Syrian rebels will return to duty as members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) tomorrow, officials said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos yesterday said the 21 Filipino soldiers would complete their tour of duty as UN peacekeepers despite being held hostage by rebels for three days.

Burgos said the incident would not discourage the 21 from performing their duties as UN peacekeepers.

“This is a global commitment. However, there would be adjustments in the light of what happened,” Burgos said.

The Filipino peacekeepers, members of a UN force monitoring a 1974 ceasefire between Syria and Israel, were freed Saturday, three days after they were taken hostage by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights.

The Filipino troops were handed over by the rebels to Jordanian officials in Tabarbour who waited to receive them.

Burgos said the peacekeepers were then turned over to the Philippine embassy in Jordan early morning and were brought to a hotel in Amman.

Officials said the soldiers even had a “boodle fight” in the hotel to celebrate their release. A boodle fight is a communal way of eating using the hands.

“They (peacekeepers) are properly accounted for and they are in good shape,” Burgos said.

“The release of the 21 Filipino peacekeepers is a big sigh of relief for their families,” he added.

The Philippine government and the UN welcomed the release and expressed appreciation to the Jordanian government.

“The Philippine government and its people express deep appreciation to the Jordanian government and military officials on the successful safe passing over to the Jordanian side of all our 21 Filipino peacekeepers,” a statement said.

Burgos said the peacekeepers’ battalion commander and one of the freed officers had personally confirmed by telephone that they were in Jordanian custody.

“The 21 peacekeepers are in the custody of the Jordanian border patrol headquarters. The Philippine ambassador is coordinating directly with Jordanian authorities and is ready to receive the 21 peacekeepers,” he said.

Burgos said the group’s commander had already met with the freed men, adding that they would be staying in a hotel in Amman for two days before being transferred back to the UNDOF.

The 21 Filipino troops had been on duty under UNDOF since November. They have until May to complete their six-month tour before sent home.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also stressed the impartiality of the UNDOF the men were serving with and called on all parties to respect their freedom of movement and safety.

“The Philippines stresses the impartiality of UNDOF and its mandate to monitor the Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria and strongly reiterates its call on all parties to respect the freedom of movement and safety and security of peacekeepers in UNDOF,” the DFA said.

The UN, through Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said he â€œappreciates the efforts of all concerned to secure their safe release.”

“The secretary-general emphasizes to all parties the impartiality of United Nations peacekeepers,” the UN Secretary General said in a statement.

Coordinate with the UN

Malacañang welcomed the release of 21 Filipino UN peacekeepers.

“The President was very concerned and he welcomes the news (of the release),” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said. “Of course, the President was very happy to receive the news.

“The President has been updated about the release of the peacekeeping forces,” Valte said, without making any categorical announcement whether the soldiers will be sent home.

“As to queries whether they will come home or they will have to complete their tour of duty, our people are in close coordination with the UN as to what will happen next to them… and we continue to coordinate with the UN on what will happen next,” Valte said.

The AFP also thanked those who negotiated and prayed for the release of the peacekeepers, all from the Philippine Army.

“Our happiness cannot be equaled because during the time of need, the whole nation responded,” Army spokesman Lt. Col. Randolph Cabangbang said.

The soldiers who have been freed by the Syrian rebels were identified as Maj. Dominador Valerio, Maj. Michael Mangahas, Cpt. Xy-Rus Meneses, S/Sgt. Jerry Lasquite, Sgt. Freddie Ramos, S/Sgt. Armado Queza, Cpl. Marcelo Tagle, Cpl. Jovin Baccay, Cpl. Elson Tunac, S/Sgt. Lambert Banganan, Sgt. Alan Gabunales, Cpl. Vivencio Raton, Cpl. Ariel Evangelista, T/Sgt. Elmer Esteban, S/Sgt. Felicito Baccay, Sgt Dionisio Manuel, S/Sgt. Rhae Bolhayon, Cpl. John Paul Yabut, Cpl. Jheraldine P Sario, Sgt. Aristotel Selosa and Cpl. Antonio Cortez III.

They are members of the 6th Philippine Contingent to the Golan Heights, consisting of 48 officers and 285 enlisted personnel.

“We have already informed their families of this good news. We will continue to pray for the more than 600 Filipino UN peacekeepers and military observers deployed in nine mission areas allover the word,” Burgos said.

“As a matter of procedure our peacekeepers will be given the necessary and appropriate medical attention to make sure that they are truly well and healthy, likewise a security debriefing will also be conducted,” he added.

The rebels, whom the Filipino troops described as “civilians,” supposedly brought them to a safe place. The peacekeepers said they were treated well by their captors.

The Philippines has been sending troops to Golan Heights, an area disputed by Israel and Syria, since November 2009 as part of its commitment to maintain world peace.

The contingent performs peacekeeping tasks such as manning and patrolling the area of separation, operating foot and mobile patrols, and coordinating with host nations.

The 6th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights is led by Lt. Col. Nolie Anquillano. It left the country in three batches last November.

The Philippine government also sends peacekeeping teams and observers to Haiti, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Timor Leste, Iraq and Pakistan.

On the other hand, a senior administration lawmaker said the US and the European Union should reconsider providing assistance to the Syrian rebels following their taking hostage the Filipino peacekeepers.

“This is pure blackmail by the rebels against the UN,” Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said.

He asked why the rebels, who have been getting humanitarian and military assistance from the US and the EU, would hold hostage members of the neutral UN peacekeeping force sent to protect the Syrian people from the onslaught of the Syrian army.

“They should have realized that the Filipino peacekeeping team were sent to Syria precisely to protect civilians who are caught in the crossfire,” Sarmiento said.

He said the incident has “unmasked the real agenda of the Syrian rebels in their quest to seize power in Syria.” –Delon Porcalla, Rainier Allan Ronda, Paolo Romero