Kidnapped Pinoy peacekeepers ‘safe’

MANILA, Philippines – They’re safe. And negotiations are ongoing for their release.

Col. Arnulfo Burgos, spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said that the 21 Filipino troops — 18 soldiers and 3 officers — kidnapped by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights Wednesday, March 6, are “safe.”

The troops’ force commander, an Indian, is in touch with the rebels and had been assured of their safety, Burgos told Rappler on Thursday, March 7. Burgos withheld the identities of the Filipinos, adding negotiations are ongoing for their release.

The 21 are among the more than 300 Filipinos under the UN Disengagement Force (UNDOF) based in Syria. They arrived in Syria in November 2012.

It’s the 6th Filipino contingent sent to Syria. UNDOF has been monitoring a ceasefire between Syria and Israel since 1974.

About 30 armed fighters stopped an UNDOF convoy in the ceasefire zone Wednesday, UN deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey told reporters. 

“The UN observers were on a regular supply mission and were stopped near Observation Post 58, which had sustained damage and was evacuated this past weekend following heavy combat in close proximity, at Al Jamlah,” he added.

In a statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called for their “immediate” release and demanded that the Syrian government and rebels respect “UNDOF’s freedom of movement and security.” – with reports from Glenda M. Gloria/Rappler.com