Remains of Pinoy peacekeeper slain in Haiti due today

The remains of the Filipino peacekeeper who was shot dead in Haiti more than a week ago are due to arrive in Manila today, the Philippine mission to the United Nations said.

Ambassador Lauro Baja, permanent representative to the UN, said yesterday the body of Army S/Sgt. Antonio Batomalaque was flown out of Haiti last Wednesday after a military ceremony and will be brought back home aboard Philippine Airlines Flight PR-103 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Parañaque City at around 5:30 a.m.

President Arroyo paid tribute to the fallen Filipino soldier and in a statement said "heroism for global peace is what we see in the death" of Batomalaque, who was slain by Haitian gunmen in an ambush of peacekeepers last April 14.

"His death will be a constant reminder of our commitment to multilateral peacekeeping and (to) the rule of law everywhere," said the President’s statement read by Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero, commander of the 135-member Philippine peacekeeping contingent in Haiti during the memorial ceremony.

Lucero informed Baja that officers of the UN stabilization mission (MINUSTAH) in Haiti and other foreign peacekeeping contingents paid their final respects to Batomalaque in the ceremony held at the mission headquarters in Port-au-Prince.

Leading the officers were Hocine Medili, deputy special representative of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Brazilian force commander of MINUSTAH.

Batomalaque, 22, died from a bullet wound to his head when gunmen attacked UN peacekeepers conducting security operations against gangs terrorizing residents in the seaside slum of Cite Soleil in Port-au-Prince.

He was the third soldier killed since the UN deployed a peacekeeping force in Haiti last year.

Although he was the 11th Filipino to die while serving on a UN peacekeeping mission, Batomalaque is believed to be the first killed by hostile fire.

The deaths of Filipino peacekeepers in Cambodia, East Timor, Liberia, Iraq and Lebanon were attributed to either accidents or natural causes.

In his eulogy, Lucero praised Batomalaque for his commitment to duty, respect for his senior officers and peers regardless of nationality, and his sense of nationalism.

Describing Batomalaque as a son the Filipino nation is proud to have, Lucero said his death only strengthens the resolve of the Philippines to pursue its commitment to the UN, especially in Haiti where the Philippine contingent has been serving since November of last year.

"The Philippines, a great peacekeeping nation, has lost a son who gave his life for the UN in the pursuit of peace and stability in Haiti," Lucero said.

"All efforts will be made to arrest and bring to justice the perpetrators of this criminal act," he added.

In paying homage to Batomalaque, Lt. Gen. Augusto Ribeiro Heleno Pereia, MINUSTAH force commander, noted the slain Filipino Army man was a brave soldier who traveled all the way from the Philippines to join the UN in the service of peace.

"We honor the service of this courageous solider by tirelessly pressing on with our mission to ensure a secure and stable environment and to facilitate political and human rights for the people of Haiti," he said.

During the ceremony, Pereira and Medili placed a wreath on Batomalaque’s closed casket. Officers from other contingents also gave their final salute to their fallen comrade-in-arms.

A Filipino priest, Andrew Labatoria, blessed and prayed over the casket, which was then carried by members of the Philippine contingent to the hearse that took the remains to the Port-au-Prince airport for the flight back home to his grieving loved ones.