Syrian rebels fail to free 21 Filipino peacekeepers

In this Nov. 11, 2012 photo released by the Philippine Army, Philippine peacekeeping officers line up before departing to Golan Heights at the Villamor Air Base at a Manila suburb, in the Philippines. The Philippine government said Thursday, March 7, 2013 that talks were under way for the release of 21 unarmed Filipino U.N. peacekeepers who were detained by Syrian rebels in the Golan Heights in the increasingly volatile zone separating Israeli and Syrian troops. (AP Photo/Philippine Army)

MANILA, Philippines—The expected release of the 21 Filipino United Nations (UN) peacekeepers being held hostage by rebels in Syria did not happen, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Friday.

“Our information was that the 21 Filipino UN peacekeepers would be released earlier today, this has not happened,” DFA Spokesman Raul Hernandez told reporters in a press conference.

“We are continuing to work with all stakeholders for the expeditious release of our Filipino UN peacekeepers,” he said.

The Filipino UN peacekeepers were seized by rebels Wednesday near the village of Al Jamla in Golan Heights, a disputed territory between Israel and Syria.

The rebels have been firm in demanding that the Syrian government withdraw troops from the village, Hernandez said.

“The demand is still there that the Syrian forces be repositioned somewhere in Al Jamla maybe to give space to the rebel forces in the area,” he said.

“We have been assured that our partners would help us in the release of the 21 Filipino UN peacekeepers and we welcome that assurance,” Hernandez added.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a radio interview that Filipinos are still expected to be released within the day.

“If ever they will be released within the day, they will be turned over to the International Committee of the Red Cross,” Colonel Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. told Radyo Inqurer 990AM, citing reports from their personnel in Syria.

Origianlly posted at 03:35 p.m.