AFP sends off new UN peacekeepers to Haiti, Liberia

MANILA, Philippines - The military sent off yesterday fresh peacekeeping teams to Haiti and Liberia and gave assurance that the United Nations funds allotted for the contingents would be used properly.

The 115-man team bound for Haiti and the 155-man contingent bound for Liberia are the first batches of peacekeepers to be deployed since the controversy involving the alleged misuse of UN funds surfaced.

“We’ll just have to strengthen our systems and procedures in order to make use of the fund for their deployment,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lt. Gen. Eduardo Oban said during the sendoff ceremonies in Camp Aguinaldo.  

Commanders of the peacekeeping teams to Haiti and Liberia said their morale will not be affected by the corruption issues involving UN funds.

Col. Jorge Lomboy, head of the 15th Philippine contingent to Liberia, said they are confident that the authorities would use the funds properly.

“We believe and we are hopeful that they will give us adequate support… We trust the authorities will do what they should do,” he said.

Col. Ariel Caculitan, head of the 13th Philippine contingent to Haiti, said they are looking forward to the opportunity to help people from other countries.

“What excites us is the opportunity to be deployed in a peacekeeping mission… So far, everything has been provided to us. We are not really affected (by the issues),” Caculitan said.

Oban said the monthly allowance of enlisted personnel who are part of the UN teams has been raised to $900 from $690.

“The latest decision made by (former AFP chief) Gen. (Ricardo) David was the increase of their United Nations military allowance from $600 level to $900,” he said.

The AFP has standardized the monthly allowance given to UN peacekeepers, placing it at $900 for all soldiers regardless of rank.

Previously, the allowance given to a UN peacekeeper is dependent on his rank. A corporal used to receive a monthly allowance of $690 while a colonel gets $1,028.

Earlier, retired Lt. Col. George Rabusa claimed that military funds, including UN reimbursements for peacekeeping teams, were diverted so ranking officers can avail of hefty sums.

He said the AFP diverted millions of UN reimbursements to the Provisions for Command Directed Activities, the alleged source of sendoff money given to retiring military chiefs.

Former state auditor Heidi Mendoza also claimed that some P200 million in UN funds ended up in a private bank account.

Oban said the UN peacekeepers in Haiti and Liberia will play key roles since the two countries are preparing for their respective elections. Haiti will hold elections on March 20 while Liberia will conduct its polls on Oct. 11.

“Your (peacekeepers) presence in those countries is deemed critical for the stability and progress of those nations (which) rest heavily on the credibility of their elections and the orderliness of their transfer of political power,” Oban said.

The Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations charter and has been sending peacekeeping teams to Liberia since 2003 and to Haiti since 2004.