Syrian rebels Sunday freed four Filipino peacekeepers five days after seizing them at an observation post in the Golan Heights, the Philippine military’s chief spokesman said.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines will follow orders if Manila will decide to pull out its peacekeeping force a UN patrolled demarcation line.
MANILA, Philippines—The United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) is still in “continuous talks” with the Syrian rebels who abducted four Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights. Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, told reporters in a press briefing on Friday that the Philippine Battalion is closely coordinating with the UNDOF, but declined [...]
The United Nations on Wednesday pulled peacekeepers back from an observation post in the Golan Heights ceasefire zone where four Philippine troops were abducted by Syrian rebels, a spokesman said.
The Philippine military on Wednesday expressed optimism that the abduction of four United Nations peacekeepers in Syria will be “resolved without any untoward incident,” just the same as the incident in March.
The Philippines on Wednesday condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the abduction of four Filipino peacekeepers deployed in the Golan Heights under the United Nations Command and called for their immediate release.
An armed group on Tuesday abducted four UN peacekeepers from the Philippines in the Golan Heights, which has been hit by mounting spillover from the Syrian civil war, the United Nations said.
A batch of 69 Filipinos are set to arrive this week from conflict-torn Syria as government continues its mandatory repatriation program amid a worsening security situation in the Arab country.
The 21 Filipino United Nations peacekeepers who were detained four days by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights are in high spirits, according to the Philippine ambassador to Israel who visited them last Monday.
The Philippines said Thursday it would keep its contingent of United Nations peacekeepers in the Golan Heights, after Syrian rebels held 21 of them hostage for three days last week.
The 21 Filipino peacekeepers recently freed by Syrian rebels after almost four days of captivity in Golan Heights are willing to continue their tour of duty, the military said Monday.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the release of 21 Filipino peacekeepers held by Syrian rebels but said all sides in the conflict must respect the United Nations’ “impartiality.”
