UN Pinoy peacekeepers undergo organizational training in Golan

From the Daily Tribune (Sep 8): UN Pinoy peacekeepers undergo organizational training in Golan

Filipino peacekeepers, who were involved in a tense standoff and a seven-hour firefight with Syrian rebels before escaping under the cover of darkness, are now undergoing organizational training at Camp Ziouani in the Golan Heights to keep them busy.

Col. Roberto Ancan, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Peacekeeping Operations Center, said the 75 Filipino peacekeepers, who were previously stationed at Positions 68 and 69, are conducting training.

Ancan discounted the possible return of the Filipino peacekeepers to their original posts, saying “it’s not safe anymore.”

On the other hand, 83 Filipino peacekeepers are still manning their post at Position 80.

“Our troops in Camp Ziouani will be conducting training in order for them to get themselves busy…they are conducting EOD (Explosives and Ordnance Disposal) training, first aid, combat life support (training),” Ancan said.

“We are still holding to the Position 80 which is our second company headquarters,” he added.

The 311-strong Philippine contingent to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights is set to complete its tour of duty this coming October.

The government already announced that it will not be sending peacekeepers to UNDOF until the situation improves. The AFP noted that the Filipino peacekeepers have been subjected to crossfires between
Syrian military forces and rebels.

The AFP stressed the Philippine contingent was deployed in the Golan Heights to monitor separation between Israel and Syria.

Last Aug. 28, Syrian rebels, reportedly from the al-Nusra Front, surrounded Positions 68 and 69 of the Filipino peacekeepers before attacking them two days later. The 40 Filipino peacekeepers from Position 68 stood their ground in seven-hour firefight with the rebels.

The 35 Filipino peacekeepers from Position 69 were extricated by their fellow Filipinos from Position 80, escorted by Irish armor assets.

UNDOF commander Maj. Gen. Iqba Singh Singha ordered the Filipinos to surrender to firearms and raised the white flag, citing that 43 Fijian peacekeepers were taken by the Syrian rebels. However, the Filipinos defied the order and escaped shortly after midnight Saturday and walked to safety for hours under the cover of darkness.

The escape plan was supported by the AFP top brass, led by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr.

Singha branded the move taken by the Filipinos as “cowardice” but Catapang stressed that the Filipino peacekeepers held their ground against the Syrian rebels in a seven-hour firefight with any reinforcements.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/un-pinoy-peacekeepers-undergo-organizational-training-in-golan