AFP chief softens stand vs UNDOF commander

From the Daily Tribune (Sep 23): AFP chief softens stand vs UNDOF commander

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. yesterday softened his stand against United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) commander Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Singha for supposedly ordering Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights to surrender to Syrian rebels.

Catapang, who previously called for an investigation against Singha, said the UNDOF commander should also be given credit.

The AFP chief cited Singha’s orders to the Philippine contingent in various stations in the Golan Heights to pull out from their positions when it was necessary, apparently due to higher risks.

Catapang said the UNDOF commander called for the pullout of Filipino peacekeepers from Positions 60, 80, 85 and 69 when he saw it was necessary to reposition.

“We need to give him (Singha) credit,” Catapang told reporters during the sendoff ceremony for the 18th Philippine Contingent to Haiti.

Filipino peacekeepers from Position 68 and 69 in the Golan heights were actually involved in the standoff with Syrian rebels late last month. The 35 Filipino troops from Position 69 were extricated by fellow Filipinos from Position 80, escorted by Irish armored assets.

However, the 40 Filipino peacekeepers from Position 68 were attacked by the Syrian rebels, forcing them to engage the rebels into a seven-hour firefight.

Catapang maintained that the Filipino peacekeepers, led by Capt. Nilo Ramones, repositioned to avoid engaging the Syrian rebels into a firefight which is not part of their mission as peacekeepers.

“If you study it carefully, all orders issued by General Singha were followed,” said Catapang, stressing that the repositioning of the Filipino peacekeepers from Position 68 was made to avoid firefight, apparently in compliance to Singha’s order not to fire.

At the height of the standoff, the AFP leadership was closely communicating with the embattled Filipino peacekeepers and supported the plan to vacate Position 68.

“He (Singha) has his own decision given to our soldiers, we also have our own decision…and we saw the easiest thing to do was to reposition because we were there not to go on firefight,” said Catapang.

Previously, the AFP termed the act as the “great escape” after evading the Syrian rebels by leaving their post at the cover of darkness but Singha branded it as “cowardice.”

Prior to the seven-hour firefight, 45 Fijian peacekeepers were disarmed and held by the Syrian rebels.

“I think it was a win-win (situation). General Singha did the right thing, the Armed Forces also did the right thing. At the end of the day, everybody happy. The Fijians were released, so we’re okay,” said Catapang.

Meanwhile, as evidence of its continued commitment to the United Nations peacekeeping mission, the AFP yesterday sent off another 157-strong all-Navy contingent to Haiti.

Catapang and Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Admiral Jesus Millan led the sendoff ceremony for the members of the 18th Philippine Contingent to Haiti, led by Cmdr. Aldrin Doctor.

The 157-strong contingent is composed of 12 officers and 145 enlisted personnel. All of the contingent members are from the Philippine Navy. Nine were female Navy personnel. Thirty-three are from the Marines.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/afp-chief-softens-stand-vs-undof-commander