DFA wants pullout of Phl peacekeepers from Syria

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has submitted to President Aquino the recommendation for an early pullout of Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights due to the escalation of war in Syria and the danger they face in the area.

Del Rosario also noted that the rules of peacekeeping have changed and the kidnapping of Filipino peacekeepers twice over a short period is a gross violation of international law.

At a breakfast forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines at the Mandarin Hotel in Makati City yesterday, Del Rosario said his department is now cooperating with the United Nations and other international partners for the safe and early return of the four Filipino peacekeepers snatched by Syrian rebels early this week.

After the first incident of kidnapping of Filipino peacekeepers in March, the President directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to study and re-evaluate the risk of exposure of Filipino troops there.

“We have come to a conclusion that on the basis that circumstances have changed, it is highly possible that our recommendation will encompass an early pullout of our people there because their exposure now is beyond tolerable limits,” he said.

The Philippines currently contributes to eight UN Peacekeeping Missions throughout the world, with a total deployment of 843 personnel.

The country has 343 personnel in Golan Heights and ranks 30th among top contributors of police and troops to UN peacekeeping.

The Filipino peacekeepers, Del Rosario said, have served with dedication in their respective areas.

“We have to get clearance from the President. We have to see how we can do this, but if the circumstances are such as we see them, we want the troops pulled out immediately,” Del Rosario said.

“The abductors of peacekeepers are under siege and using our people to be able to get them out of the situation that they found themselves in.”

Del Rosario said critical levels range from 1 to 6 and the recommendation is that the Philippine contingent would remain in the mission only up to Level 2.

“Beyond that (Critical Level 2), we think our people are unnecessarily exposed. It is already Level 5 (in Golan Heights),” he said.

Asked if the Philippines would also pull out peacekeepers serving in other missions, Del Rosario said: “We need to review what levels they are in and decide on a case-by-case basis.”

While a three-month notice is observed before the pull out of troops, he said the government would work for earlier release from the mission.

“For us, our first duty is to secure the safety and security of our people,” Del Rosario said.

He said he talked with UN Undersecretary-General Hervé Ladsous of the Peacekeeping Operations Tuesday night to coordinate efforts for the early and safe release of the Filipino peacekeepers.

AFP to follow order

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it would follow the decision of the government to pull Filipino peacekeepers from Golan Heights.

“We will follow the orders of our government and its foreign policy,” Maj. Ramon Zagala, AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief, said.  

He said the deployment of Filipino peacekeepers is part of the country’s commitment to the UN international peacekeeping operations, and once soldiers are deployed there they are no longer directly under control of the AFP but under the UN.

He said the AFP leadership is hopeful that with the ongoing UN-sponsored negotiations, the four soldiers would soon be released. – With Jaime Laude