Pinoy UN peacekeepers to guard Pope’s RP visit

From the Daily Tribune (Sep 29): Pinoy UN peacekeepers to guard Pope’s RP visit

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has assigned two military battalions, one of them figured in a firefight with Syrian rebels while deployed in the Golan Heights, to augment security forces to secure Pope Francis when he visits the country in January next year.

AFP chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. particularly picked the 7th and 8th Philippine Contingent to the Golan Heights to form part of the security group for the papal visit.

The 7th Philippine Contingent to the Golan Heights (PCGH) arrived last week after the government ordered the pullout of Filipino peacekeepers from the strife-torn region due to worsening security situation.

Members of the 7th PCGH figured in a standoff that led to a seven-hour firefight with Syrian rebels late August while members of the 8th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights were supposed to replace the 7th PCGH this October but the government has suspended sending of peacekeepers.

Each contingent is a battalion-sized composed of around 300 soldiers.

Catapang said the military battalions will be supporting the Philippine National Police (PNP) in securing the papal visit.

“These units will be put under the operational control of the PNP who is in charge of the overall security for the pontiff’s four-day visit to the country,” the AFP-Public Affairs Office said in a statement.

The military is banking on the peacekeeping training of the soldiers in performing their tasks as part of the security group for the visit of Pope Francis.

“The peacekeepers’ experience beyond Philippine borders may serve them well as many people from all walks of life are expected to come to the Philippines to see the Pope,” the AFP-PAO said.

“We believe that their exposure and experience in peacekeeping operations in Syria will be beneficial toward the successful security of Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines,” it added.

President Aquino has tasked the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to take the lead in the security of Pope Francis while he is in the country.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines said Pope Francis will be in the Philippines from January 15-19 and will visit the survivors of Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” which left about 7,300 people dead across the Visayas in November last year.

Politicians have said Filipino Islamic militants, some of who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State jihadists fighting in Iraq and Syria, could pose a threat during the papal visit.

The government has said there are no known links between the two groups, and that the Filipino militants are merely associating themselves with the jihadists to elevate their profile and for financial gain.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/pinoy-un-peacekeepers-to-guard-pope-s-rp-visit