PH ‘taking steps’ to address peacekeeping concerns

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is taking “steps” to address its “peacekeeping concerns” in the Golan Heights through diplomatic channels in the United Nations, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Friday, September 5. 

Del Rosario made the statement a day after Commander Lieutenant General Iqbal Singha of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) accused Philippine peacekeepers of acting as “cowards” when they disobeyed orders and escaped Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights on August 31.

In a statement released by Department of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Charles Jose, Del Rosario said: “The Philippines is taking steps to address our peacekeeping concerns through diplomatic channels within the UN.”

Jose also said, “We should focus now on supporting efforts to secure the freedom of the Fijian peacekeepers.”

The DFA spokesman did not elaborate on what these “steps” are.

In a news briefing hours before Del Rosario issued the statement, Malacãnang defended Philippine peacekeepers from Singha’s allegations and maintained that the troops – hailed as heroes back home – had done the “right decision” not to hand over their weapons to Syrian rebels.

In defending the actions taken by the Philippine peacekeepers, Lacierda said that the soldiers are tasked to “keep the peace between Israel and Syria,” but the Syrian rebels, a third non-state party, came into the picture.

As such, he said, “the rules of engagement changed in the sense that while the peacekeepers are not supposed to take any offensive operation…. They were attacked and so they would have to defend themselves.”

Lacierda added: “This is a situation that was apparent and was obvious in the situation between the Syrian rebels and Philippine troops. And we believe that – and we are very certain – that our Philippine troops, our Filipino peacekeepers, made the right decision.”

He said that the Philippine troops were already running low on ammunition – after a 7-hour firefight with the rebels – and “ it was not something imaginable for our Armed Forces, our peacekeepers, to surrender themselves.”

“And so, we stand by our Filipino peacekeepers, they did the right decision. As to the statement of General Singha we would rather let the DFA issue a statement to that effect,” Lacierda said.

Singha had accused the Philippine peacekeepers of defying his order and even compromising the safety of the 45 Fijian peacekeepers – then held hostage by the rebels – by allegedly deserting their posts “when a delicate ceasefire was in place” and thus, breaking the chain of command.

The UNDOF commander denied that he had ordered the Philippine troops to surrender and yield their arms to the Syrian rebels, and was backed by Hervé Ladsous, UN Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

The Philippine military, which is seeking an investigation on Singha, said that Singha had issued a verbal order, and refused to put it in writing.  

Fiji’s Army Chief Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga had also said in media interviews that the detained 45 Fijian peacekeepers surrendered to the Syrian rebels following Singha’s orders. (READ: PH and Fiji in Golan: One order, different outcomes) – Rappler.com