Philippines to continue UN help despite abductions

Some of the 21 Filipino United Nations (UN) peacekeepers at the press conference upon their arrival at Jordanian Army Headquarters in Amman Jordan Saturday March, 9, 2012. AP

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine military officials say their country remains committed to deploying troops in UN peacekeeping hotspots despite the brief hostage-taking of 21 Filipino soldiers, who were welcomed back to freedom in Jordan with a traditional military feast.

The unarmed Filipino peacekeepers were abducted on Wednesday in southern Syria near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights by one of the rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime. After negotiations, they were freed on Saturday on Jordan’s border and taken to a hotel in Amman.

Philippine military spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos says the government’s pledge to help in UN peacekeeping missions “is a global commitment” but added security will be improved for the troops’ safety.

A Filipino army major was also briefly held in the Golan Heights last January by anti-Assad rebels.