PNoy eyes clearer policies for Pinoy peacekeepers

President Benigno Aquino III is eyeing clearer policies for Filipino peacekeepers after Philippine troops were caught in a standoff with Syrian militants in Golan Heights last week.

Aquino has asked defense officials to come up with a full report on the standoff that will serve as the government’s guide for similar situations in the future, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said at a press briefing Tuesday.

“The President, in asking for the report on this latest incident, would like some clearer policy perspectives in future deployments,” he said.

Last week, 75 Filipino peacekeepers figured in a standoff with Syrian rebels, which ended over the weekend with them escaping after a seven-hour clash.

On Monday, Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said Filipino peacekeepers had to defy an order from Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Singha, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) commander, to be able to escape from the militants.

Singha, who Catapang wants probed, supposedly wanted the Filipino troops to lay down their firearms to ensure the safety of their Fijian counterparts, who were seized by Syrian rebels.

Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in a 1967 war, and the countries technically remain at war. Syrian troops are not allowed in an area of separation under a 1973 ceasefire formalized in 1974.

UNDOF monitors the area of separation, a narrow strip of land running 70 km from Mount Hermon on the Lebanese border to the Yarmouk River frontier with Jordan. There are 1,223 UNDOF peacekeepers from six countries.

When asked if MalacaƱang support Catapang's call for an investigation on Singha, Coloma just said that the Philippines “is committed to fulfill its commitment to the UNDOF.”

He added that the executive leaves it to Congress to decide if the country needs a legislation to further ensure the safety of Filipino peacekeepers.

The Philippines has 331 troops serving in UNDOF. They are set to be pulled out after their tour of duty in October. —KBK, GMA News

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