MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino commended yesterday the gallantry of Filipino peacekeepers who fought a rearguard action against a superior force of al- Qaeda-linked Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights recently.
“All Filipino soldiers over there, from the lowly private to the colonel, have shown ability and skill in their duty,” he said in Filipino.
“When pinned down, they planned, took action and they were able to save themselves from danger.”
He spoke before senators, members of the House of Representatives and local officials in a forum in Malacañang yesterday.
Aquino said the government has complied with its international obligations like the deployment of troops in the Golan Heights.
“Situations change and the number of conflicting forces have increased in the place which our soldiers have been assigned to guard,” he said in Filipino.
“It’s too far but we decided to help. We know that if the conflict in the Middle East worsens, prices of fuel would be affected.”