AFP chief: Pinoy troops’ pullout from Golan Heights up to gov’t

From the Daily Tribune (Jun 8): AFP chief: Pinoy troops’ pullout from Golan Heights up to gov’t

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday said that pulling out of its peacekeepers from the strife-torn Golan Heights remained a “political decision” even after one Filipino soldier was reported wounded amid intense fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels.

However, the military leadership maintained that all Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights in Syria will remain in the area until a decision is reached by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

AFP chief of staff Gen. Emmanuel Bautista confirmed that one Filipino peacekeeper was “slightly wounded” in Golan Heights where there were reported fightings between Syrian armed forces and insurgents.

Bautista said there is no order yet to pull out from the troubled region.

“That is a political decision... it’s a foreign relations issue and we submit to whatever the decision is going to be. We just implement,” Bautista said.

He stressed that the AFP is ready to face the risks that come with its mandate, whether locally or outside the country.

As member of the United Nations, the Philippines is committed to send peacekeepers in UN-sanctioned peace mission in various parts of the world, including Golan Heights.

“We are committed to perform our mandate and we lay our lives on the line whether it be here or somewhere else,” Bautista stressed.

The AFP chief said that risk in Golan Heights is very manageable, adding that the Philippines had faced even tougher conditions when it deployed around 8,000 Filipino soldiers during the Korean War.

“There was combat then and yet we deployed our people,” Bautista said.

The soldier, who sustained shrapnel wounds in the right ankle, is a member of the 6th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights.

Maj. Ramon Zagala, AFP public affairs office chief, said that the injured soldier is now in stable condition.

He added that the incident took place as Syrian government and rebel forces clashed some three to four kilometers away from Camp Ziouni.

The latter base is the logistic base of the UN Disengagement Observer Force.

Zagala said that the AFP is constantly monitoring the situation in the area even as he stressed that the safety and well-being of all Filipino peacekeepers is the military’s priority.

About DFA’s recommendation last month to President Aquino that the country should withdraw its peacekeepers because of security concerns, the Malacañang said no decision had yet been made.

“The recommendation re (regarding) the deployment of forces is being studied as of the present time,” presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said.

According to DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez, the department’s position remained that the Filipino troops should be pulled out.

There are 341 Filipino peacekeepers now deployed in Golan Heights, 25 of whom were abducted and later on released during separate incidents in March and May.

The abductions prompted the DFA to recommend the pull out of Filipino troops from Golan Heights.

On Thursday, Austria pulled out 377 peacekeepers from Golan Heights amid tense fighting in the area.

Japan and Croatia earlier also pulled out their peacekeepers from Golan Heights.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/index.php/nation/item/15120-afp-chief-pinoy-troops-pullout-from-golan-heights-up-to-gov-t