Captured Filipino UN peacekeepers being ‘treated well’ – AFP

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino United Nations peacekeepers captured by Syrian rebels in Golan Heights were being “treated well,” the military said Thursday.

Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., spokesman of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, confirmed the incident, and said the 21 peacekeepers were “treated well” and “treated as guests.”

The spokesman expressed optimism that the peacekeepers would be released soon as negotiations were underway to free the troops.

Burgos did not identify the captured soldiers pending the notification of their families, but said there were three officers and 18 enlisted personnel held by the rebels. The most senior of the abducted held the rank of a Major.

Among the demands of the rebels was the immediate withdrawal of troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The peacekeepers were on a logistics run when they were stopped by the rebels on Wednesday noon (Syrian time), but were released. They were captured later when the rebels stopped them for the second time, Burgos said.

The peacekeepers abducted by the rebels were part of the 322-strong 6th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights, which were deployed in November 2012.

The UN peacekeepers, who assist the UN Disengagement Observers’ Force, perform peacekeeping operations such as manning and patrolling the area of separation, operating foot and mobile patrols at irregular intervals by day and night, and keeping close contact and liaison with host nations.

The soldiers were all from the Philippine Army.
The military has been sending peacekeepers to Golan Heights since 2009.