MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang will await the full report of Philippine authorities on the Golan Heights standoff so it can see the “complete picture,” after the United Nations backed the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) commander who had allegedly endangered Philippine troops.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr made the statement in a news briefing on Thursday, September 4, while fielding questions on the UN’s expression of support for UNDOF commander Lieutenant General Iqbal Singha, amid complaints from the Philippine military that he had allegedly put Filipino troops in danger.

Coloma said the Philippines wants “to complete our tour of duty and wind down our UN commitment in the proper way,” and downplayed any discrepancies between the account of the Philippine military and the UN on the Golan standoff.

Asked if Malacañang is standing by the statement made by Armed Forces Chief General Gregorio Catapang Jr – that Singha had ordered Philippine troops to surrender and yield their arms to the rebels – which runs counter to the claim of the UN, Coloma downplayed any discrepancies between the two.

“That’s why the President is waiting for the full report. We aren’t contradicting anything they said. Of course, we stand by the courage and skill of our troops there. But it’s important to look at the whole situation, especially as we end our commitment,” he said.

President Benigno Aquino III had earlier asked the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to prepare a report on the events that led to a standoff between Filipino peacekeepers and Syrian rebels. 

Coloma also said the Philippines is closely coordinating with the UN to discuss what happened during the incident, but gave assurances the peacekeepers will complete their commitment to serve until October. 

“The Department of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with the DND and the AFP  and is in close consultation with the United Nations on this matter,” he said.

He added: “After all, the deployment of Filipino peacekeepers is a UN matter and that is a matter of international diplomacy for which the DFA is responsible. We will fulfill our commitment to the UN….Our peacekeepers will complete their tour of duty in the Golan Heights in October.”

On Thursday, August 28, Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front took Fijian peacekeepers hostage and, later surrounded encampments of Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights.

The rebels demanded them to surrender their firearms. The Philippine military said they were ordered by Singha to surrender their weapons to the rebels but the Philippine troops refused, triggering a standoff that was followed by a 7-hour heavy firefight on Saturday, August 30.

On Sunday, while the rebels were asleep, about 40 Filipino soldiers managed to escape and set up in another encampment. 

After the incident, the AFP chief expressed disappointment over Singha’s orders and asked that the UN investigate him for allegedly endangering the Filipino troops. – Rappler.com