INQUIRER Global Nation

MANILA, Philippines?Major General Natalio Ecarma III became the first Filipino to head a United Nations peacekeeping mission on Monday when he took over the command of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (Undof) in the Golan Heights.

Ecarma took over from Austrian Major General Wolfgang Jilke the command of Undof, which oversees the ceasefire between Syria and Israel at the border.

Ecarma served as deputy commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps and concurrent commander of Marine Forces in southern Philippines. He also served as combat and service support brigade commander and marine brigade commander.