DFA insists Pinoy peacekeepers ordered to surrender

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has officially relayed to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the accusation raised by Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights against their UN commander who had ordered them to surrender to Syrian rebels.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario told yesterday the House appropriations committee chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab that he narrated the events that led to the “extrication” of the besieged Filipino soldiers from the Golan Heights in a letter to Ban.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said Del Rosario is set to meet with Ban at the UN headquarters in New York next week to discuss the issue.

Del Rosario said he informed the UN chief that the Syrian rebels wanted the Filipino peacekeepers to surrender their firearms in exchange for safe passage.

Aware of the fate of the Fijian peacekeepers, who had earlier surrendered their weapons to the Syrian rebels, the Filipino soldiers opted to disobey orders from Indian Lt. Gen. Singh Singha, commander of the UN Disengagement Observation Force (UNDOF), for them to give in to the rebels’ demand to secure the release of the Fijians.

“Had our soldiers surrendered their firearms, they would have been taken hostage just the same, like the Fijians,” he added.

He pointed out that the Armed Forces of the Philippines directed its troops to “extricate themselves.”

Responding to questions, Del Rosario admitted that Syrian and Israeli troops helped in the escape of the Filipino soldiers, who were supposed to keep the peace between Syria and Israel in the Golan Heights.

He also urged the UN to review its peacekeeping mission and its terms of engagement in the border between Syria and Israel “in view of the presence of at least seven armed groups there.”

UN Undersecretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous voiced support for Singha’s explanation.

Responding to questions regarding the resignation of a ranking Filipino UNDOF military official, Col. Ezra James Enriquez, Ladsous said it was important to recognize that all the detained Filipino troops had either escaped or been recovered during the operation launched by the Quick Reaction Force.

“The situation on the ground is a fluid one and the decision was to launch the Quick Reaction Force to extract the peacekeepers. General Singha exercised good, solid judgment throughout the process,” Ladsous said. – With Jaime Laude, Marvin Sy, Pia Lee-Brago