The Malacañang
said on Friday that the 75 well-armed Filipino peacekeepers that were
reportedly besieged by the Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights are ready to
defend themselves. Since Thursday, after refusing to surrender their firearms
to Syrian rebels, the Filipino troops have been holding their line in two camps
at the UN’s controlled Golan Heights.
The Filipino peacekeepers locked in a
standoff with Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights are “showing the world the
courage of the Filipino spirit,” Malacañang said.
Col. Roberto Ancan, the commander of
the peacekeeping operations division of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,
said that during the standoff there were no shots had been made, but his troops
were ready to engage in any combat with the rebels.
“We can use deadly force in defense of
the UN facilities,” Ancan said.
“It is the UN flag that flies in those
facilities. We must defend those facilities,” he said.
“I [would] just like to emphasize our
troops are well-armed, well-trained, and
well-disciplined warrior peacekeepers,” he said.
Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala, spokesperson for
the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said that the Filipino soldiers would not
surrender no matter what. They will continue to contribute to the UN for more
peaceful world.
Because of the standoff, President
Benigno Aquino III was forced to cut short his visit to Mindoro Oriental
province where he led the inauguration of several infrastructure projects on
Friday.
“The plan was for me to try to be a
tourist here in Mindoro Oriental tonight. That was the plan. But the truth is,
I have been asked to return to Manila after this because you know, there is a
slight problem in [the] Golan Heights with our peacekeepers. They are caught in
the civil war happening in Syria,” President Aquino said as he began his
speech.
But Mr. Aquino told his audience not to
be anxious because right now, there is no real danger, based on the report of
the Department of National Defense.
Malacañang praised the courage of the
Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights.
“It is our hope that this matter will
be resolved in a safe manner in the soonest possible time. We join the rest of
the world in praying for the safety of all the peacekeepers in the region, in
particular our countrymen who continue to carry out their honorable duties.
They are showing the world the courage of the Filipino spirit,” presidential
spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in the statement.
The government, however did, not regret
their decision not pulling out the Filipino contingent to serve the UN for
peacekeeping mission. Only last week, President Aquino ordered the repatriation
of the Filipino peacekeeping contingents in the Golan Heights and Liberia, citing
security and health risks.
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