Pinoy peacekeepers in Golan Heights captured Syrian abductors’ hearts

MANILA, Philippines - Being kidnapped in a foreign land can be a horrifying experience, but Capt. Arlis Jardin, the team leader of Filipino peacekeepers held hostage in Golan Heights last May 7, did not feel much tension.

Jardin noted that such abduction is not new to them since 21 of their companions experienced the same last March 6 and were released unharmed after three days.

“We were relatively relaxed because they (rebels) did not do anything wrong to the first batch [of peacekeepers who were kidnapped],” Jardin said in an interview on Wednesday.

“We know they (rebels) won’t hurt us,” he added.

Syrian rebels held Jardin and three enlisted personnel near Al Jamlah in the ceasefire zone between Syria and Israel to air their grievances to the United Nations (UN).

The kidnappers informed Jardin and his three companions about the supposed failure of the UN to address their concerns.

“But when I told them that we are Filipino soldiers and we are here for a certain mandate which is to implement the disengagement agreement, the peace agreement between Syria and Israel, they understood that we were not the UN volunteers sent to provide them aid,” he said.

However, it was not just Jardin’s explanation that convinced the rebels to treat them right.

“We brought family pictures when we were deployed to the area. When we showed them our family pictures, their hearts were touched. They joined the rebellion because of their families,” he said.

Jardin said they were treated well during their captivity, which lasted for five days.

The abductors usually offered them Syrian bread, olive fruit and other native delicacies but there were times when they were allowed to make food requests.

“I tasted a lot of native delicacies. They served Arab food. We requested for chicken. It was like a Filipino cuisine,” he said in Filipino.

'Filipinos are good'

It was a slightly different story for the first batch of peacekeepers who were held hostage by the rebels last March 6.

While Jardin and his companions were somehow relaxed, Maj. Dominador Valerio and his 24 men were anxious since they do not know how the Syrian rebels will treat them.

Valerio admitted that morbid thoughts crossed their mind when they recalled how some people who just disappeared after being abducted.

However, the innate capability of Filipinos to adopt to others’ culture proved to be an effective survival tool.

“I learned that Filipinos are really friendly and we were able to get their sympathy. In fact, they [rebels] felt sad, when we left because of what we have shown them,” Valerio said.

“They talked to us about their families and their children. We were able to get along with them. They said Filipinos were good,” he added.

Despite their not-so-pleasant experiences, Jardin and Valerio said they are willing to be redeployed to Golan Heighs if necessary.

Because of their readiness to face risks and to bring pride to the country, members of the 6th Philippine Contngent to Golan Heights were awarded with a UN medal in a simple ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo yesterday.

The military leadership is still determining their next assignment but for now, members of the 332-strongcontingent are looking forward to spend Christmas with their loved ones.

This is the most memorable (Christmas) for us. This is like our second life,” Jardin said.