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| Photo credit: AFP file |
Amid the security and health threats in Golan
Heights and Liberia, a Palace official announced that President Aquino wants a full
assessment of the situation of Filipino peacekeepers that were assigned in those
areas. Abegai Valte said over the radio interview with dzRB yesterday that she had
a chance to speak to the Present and he said the they are trying to see the
available protection for Philippines soldiers that was
deployed in both places.
deployed in both places.
The Department of National Defense reportedly
suggested to pull out the Filipinos in the Golan Heights because of growing
tension in the Middle East and in Liberia due to the spread of Ebola virus.
Recently, a Filipino peacekeeper was reportedly injured in the Golan Heights.
Last year, 25 members of the Philippine
contingent to the Golan Heights were seized by Syrian rebels in two separate
cases, while 25 others were hurt from gun rounds fired by the rebels.
On the other hand, Liberia and UN intermediaries have been
ordered to limit their activities to avoid the Ebola virus. Ebola virus has
already killed over 1,000 people in West
Africa.
Valte said the President has still the right to decide whether to bring home the
peacekeepers or retain them. She said the President’s main concern is to ensure
the safety of Filipino soldiers organized overseas for peacekeeping missions.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is coordinating with the United Nations concerning the country’s
peacekeepers. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin siad on Friday the deployment
of Filipino peacekeepers should be discontinued if they are not given tools for
their security and safety.
As
of today, there are 115 Filipino peacekeepers assigned in Liberia while 332
peacekeepers in the Golan Heights and 157 in Haiti.
