RP soldiers begin Golan peacekeeping mission

The Philippine flag now flies over the Golan Heights as Filipino peacekeepers officially started their tour of duty there Thursday.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines took over from Poland in peacekeeping duties under the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

"In ceremonies held in New York on October 22, Poland lowered its national colors while the Philippines raised its own to signal the formal assumption by the 1st Philippine Battalion of peacekeeping responsibilities in the southern sector of a United Nations-controlled zone that has kept Israeli and Syrian forces apart since the end of the Arab-Israeli War in 1974," the DFA said on its website
(www.dfa.gov.ph) Friday.

Polish battalion commander Lt. Col. Mariusz Jurek handed to Philippine commanding officer Lt. Col. Milfredo Melegrito the symbolic key to Camp Ziouani.

UNDOF Force commander Maj. Gen. Wolfgang Jilke presided over the ceremony attended by UNDOF officials and members of the diplomatic corps and representatives from Israel.

The Philippine Mission to the UN said 336 Filipino troops will be in the Golan Heights by the end of the month once Poland completes its withdrawal from UNDOF.

When the rest of the Philippine battalion arrives at the end of the month, Philippine presence in the Golan Heights will bring to almost 1,000 the total number of military and police personnel serving in UN peacekeeping missions, the DFA added.

"The Philippine contingent will form part of the 1,023-strong UNDOF peacekeeping force that also includes troops from Austria, Canada, Croatia, India and Japan who have been tasked by the Security Council to maintain the cease-fire and supervise the disengagement of Israeli and Syrian forces and the so-called Areas of Separation and Limitation between the two parties," the DFA said.

Philippine Ambassador to Israel Petronila Garcia represented Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in the ceremonies.

Also in attendance were Armed Forces of the Philippines deputy chief of staff for operations Maj. Gen. Carlos Holganza, UN Philippine Mission to UN peacekeeping officer Elmer Cato, AFP peacekeeping operations center commanding officer Col. Gregory Cayetano, and officers of the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv.

Garcia said the deployment to the Golan Heights is the biggest and most challenging peacekeeping operation for Manila in almost a decade and is in line with the country’s obligations as a charter member of the United Nations.

“We also see our presence here in the Golan as our own little way of contributing to peace in the region. As a friend to both Israel and Syria, it would be to the interest of the Philippines that peace reigns in all of the Middle East where many of our countrymen are based," she said.

Garcia said that in accepting the UN invitation to deploy an infantry battalion to Golan, Manila considered the fact that in UNDOF's 35 years, the cease-fire and disengagement between Israel and Syria has been observed and not a single serious incident has shattered the peace in the area.

“For this, we are thankful not only for the professionalism and dedication demonstrated by UN peacekeepers but also for the excellent cooperation exhibited by both Israel and Syria," she said.

Garcia also lauded Poland for UNDOF's success story.

“Poland’s contributions to the cause of peace will never be forgotten and the Philippine Contingent can be expected to continue and build on the good work Warsaw has started here in the Golan. Although the Philippines is a small country with limited means, it takes its responsibility in United Nations peacekeeping very seriously," she said.

She also noted Filipino peacekeepers have served in Afghanistan, Burundi, Cambodia, Cote d’ Ivoire, Darfur, Georgia, Haiti, Iraq, Liberia, Kashmir, Kosovo, Nepal, Sudan and Timor Leste.

“Like Poland, the Philippines is proud of its strong peacekeeping tradition that dates back to the 1960s when the Philippines first sent an Air Force squadron to support UN operations in the Congo," she said.