Senate hails ‘exemplary courage’ of troops in Golan

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate on Monday, September 8, adopted a Resolution 52 praising the Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights for their “exemplary courage and resolve in the recent standoff against Syrian rebels.”

“Despite being surrounded and outnumbered by the Syrian rebels, the Filipino peacekeepers refused to surrender their arms and continued to defend their position, leading to a four-day standoff,” the resolution read.

It added: “After withstanding seven hours under heavy fire, the Filipino peacekeepers, low on ammunition, successfully planned and implemented what was dubbed as the “greatest escape” under cover of darkness and cold weather.”

Philippine military chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr received the commendation in the Senate plenary. Joining him were deputy chief of staff for operations Brigadier General Oscar Lactao, deputy chief of staff for Civil Military Operations Major General Lysander Suerte, miiltary spokesman Major General Domingo Tutaan Jr, and peacekeeping operations chief Colonel Roberto Ancan.

Earlier, Malacañang also spoke of a heroes welcome for the troops.

Syrian rebels on August 28 trooped to 2 UN facilities in Golan manned by Filipino peacekeepers to demand the surrender of the firearms. The Filipinos refused, prompting a standoff that escalated to a 7-hour firefight on August 31. The troops in one encampment would be extracted by fellow peacekeepers. The other group escaped, which was in defiance of the United Nations commander who wanted them to surrender their firearms. (READ: PH and Fiji in Golan: One order, different outcomes) 

Separate resolutions to commend the Golan troops were also filed by Senators Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Teofisto “TG” Guingona III and Antonio “Sonny Trillanes IV.

Guingona said the troops demonstrated that “Filipinos are among the bravest peacekeepers in the world.” – Rappler.com