AFP: Decision not to surrender weapons came from PHL side

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 1): AFP: Decision not to surrender weapons came from PHL side

Armed Forces chief-of-staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang on Monday said that the Philippine contingent in the Golan Heights involved in a stand-off with Syrian rebels last Thursday refused to surrender their weapons inspite of an order from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) commander.

Catapang said UNDOF commander Indian Lt. Gen.Iqbal Singh Singha ordered the Filipinos in Position 68 and 69 to surrender their weapons, in what observers said, was a vain attempt to save the 44 Fijians.

The Fijans gave up their firearms without a fight and as a result were held hostage by the Syrian rebels during the beginning of the stand-off Thursday.

Catapang said that there is no section nor clause in the terms of reference (UN deployment of peacekeepers) authorizing troop contributing countries to authorize the surrender of their troops' firearms in the event of harassment or attack.

"It's not our fault that the Fijian peacekeepers were captured and held hostage, what I told the UNDOF commander is that he should save the Philippine contingent (in Position 68 and 69) so that we can help the Fijians," the AFP chief stressed.

And besides, Catapang said that there is no assurance that the Syrian rebels will not capture the Filipino force once it surrendered all its weapons.

"And if that happens, the UNDOF commander will have a bigger problem in his hands," the AFP chief stated.

Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights are armed with M-4 automatic rifles, M-60 machine-guns, K-3 squad automatic weapons, and .45 caliber pistols.

Catapang also said that surrender of weapons, even if a ceremonial one as being proposed by the Al Nusra Front, is frowned upon by the AFP as it is a symbol of a Filipino soldiers' martial honor.

Filipino troops attached to the UNDOF is placed at 331 officers and enlisted personnel.

Catapang added that this action of the Philippine side did not contradict the UNDOF orders as troop contributing countries have leeway to countermand orders when it affects their national interest like continued security and safety of their military personnel.

"But I think we are right because we are all safe now," he added.

The AFP chief also admitted that the incident will have some kind of backlash but stressed that the UN should understand that safety of Filipino troops are of primordial importance as it prevails over and above the Fijian situation.

He also said that they are not planning to apologize to the UNDOF commander and stressed that the latter should be investigated for committing acts compromising the safety of Filipino troops.

Catapang also clarified the decision to escape from encirclement of Position 68 was also the call of the troops in the ground and one that the AFP leadership sanctioned.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=678976