Phl to send 336 peacekeepers to Golan Heights

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A new contingent of peacekeepers consisting of 336 officers and enlisted personnel will be leaving for Golan Heights in Syria starting Friday, a Philippine military official said today.

The new batch of peacekeepers will replace the 332 Filipino peacekeepers who extended their term of duty several times in the troubled territory.

Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes said the peacekeepers will be transported in three batches, of which the first one will leave on Friday, and the second batch will leave on Saturday and the last one will depart for Golan Heights on Dec. 7.

The Philippine government earlier said it decided to continue sending troops to the troubled area following assurances given by the United Nations to ensure the safety of Filipino peacekeepers.

Twenty-five members of the 332-man peacekeeping contingent were abducted earlier this year, prompting the government to review its deployment to Golan Heights.