AFP: Negotiations for 21 Pinoy UN peacekeepers going well


Negotiations for the release of 21 Filipino United Nations peacekeepers held hostage by Syrian rebels appear to be going well as of early Friday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said.
 
AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. also said they continue to "closely" monitor developments on the condition of the peacekeepers.
 
"Mukhang maganda ang takbo ng negotiations and we're in touch with our UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) personnel in Golan Heights," Burgos said in an interview on dzBB radio.
 
He did not elaborate but said, "we're closely monitoring developments."
 
Burgos also said they remain hopeful the 21 peacekeepers will be released soonest, citing reports reaching the AFP that they are being treated well.
 
"We're hoping ma-release sila sa lalong madaling panahon," he said.
 
He said the present batch started its tour of duty at Golan Heights last November, and has a tenure of six to nine months. 
 
Syrian rebels on Wednesday abducted 21 UN peacekeepers in the Golan Heights ceasefire zone, the United Nations said, as the frontiers of their war against President Bashar al-Assad spread further. —KG, GMA News

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