Armed Forces chief General Ricardo Visaya addresses the UN peacekeepers who returned from Haiti after a year of deployment. They were awarded with UN Service Medals on Friday at Camp Aguinaldo. PHOTO FROM THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES
A 135-strong contingent from the Philippine Air Force returned home from Haiti after serving a year of deployment as United Nations peacekeepers.
The peacekeepers were recognized on Friday in rites held at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday.
Armed Forces chief General Ricardo Visaya awarded the United Nations Service medals to the peacekeepers. He was joined by Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations MGen. Carlito Galvez and AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center commanding officer Col. Eugenio Hernandez.
“As peacekeepers deployed to one of the most politically unstable environments in the world, critical responsibilities were bestowed upon you. And alongside those duties are the challenges of working in a foreign land, thousand miles away from home and your loved ones,” Visaya said in the ceremony.
The 135 personnel (11 officers and 124 enlisted personnel) provided administrative and security operations through clerical services, transport services, VIP security and perimeter defense.
The peacekeepers arrived last July 11 and were replaced by a 125-all Army contingent that left the country last July 8.
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