Pullout of PH peacekeepers urged

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of National Defense (DND) has recommended to President Benigno Aquino III the pullout of Filipino peacekeepers stationed in Golan Heights and Liberia, due to the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa and the tense situation in the Middle East.

According to defense secretary Voltaire Gazmin, if Filipino peacekeepers are not securely protected from certain risks, stopping their deployment is another option.

“If they (peacekeepers) are not given the proper equipment and tools for their protection, perhaps we should not continue risking our soldiers like that,” he said.

Gazmin clarified that the DND’s recommendation to pull out Filipino forces does not cover Haiti.

“Not all troops will be pulled out. This was recommended only in areas where there are risks to health or security of our forces,” he said.

The DND came up with the recommendation after a recent military assessment on the situation of the deployed Filipino soldiers to the United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The country has military troops stationed in Liberia, Haiti and Golan Heights as part of the UN peacekeeping troops.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala says there are 115 soldiers in Liberia, 332 in Golan Heights and 157 in Haiti.

The Ebola outbreak in Liberia has prompted the United Nations to restrict the movement of peacekeepers to prevent them from getting infected.

On the other hand, Golan Heights is being disputed by Israel and Syria.

Last year, 25 members of the 6th Philippine contingent were kidnapped, but eventually freed by Syrian rebels in two separate incidents.

In June, a peacekeeper belonging to the same contingent was injured when mortar rounds allegedly fired by Syrian rebels landed inside a UN logistics headquarters in Golan Heights.

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