MANILA, Aug. 31 (PNA) — After almost a two-day standoff with Al-Qaeda-linked Syrian rebels, the Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights are now safe and repositioned in Camp Ziuoani, a Malacanang official said on Sunday.
“As of 7:00 a.m. today, lahat po ng mga Filipino peacekeepers mula sa Position 68 at Position 69 ay naka-reposition na sa Camp Ziuoani,” said Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a press briefing over radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.
On Aug. 29, Syrian rebels overran the position of Fijian United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), taking their firearms and holding the 44 Fijian peacekeepers hostage.
Since then, the rebels advanced and surrounded the positions held by Filipino peacekeepers, until they attacked on Saturday (Aug. 30) morning.
The Filipino peacekeepers early Sunday morning were able to escape and reposition themselves in Camp Ziuoani.
Coloma said Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Pio Catapang lauded the Filipino peacekeepers for their gallant effort in defending their positions.
“Pinapurihan nina Secretary Gazmin at General Catapang ang ating mga magigiting na kawal sa kanilang matatag at ‘di matinag na determinasyong ipagtanggol ang lugar sa Golan Heights na sakop ng kanilang responsibilidad. Patunay ito sa determinasyon ng Pilipinas na gampanan ang commitment nito sa United Nations,” said Coloma.
The Communications Secretary also thanked the nation-members of UNDOF together with the government of Syria, Israel, Qatar and the United States for their support to defuse the tension in Golan Heights.
The UNDOF is composed of 1,223 troops from six countries: Fiji, India, Ireland, Nepal, the Netherlands and the Philippines. (PNA)