‘Pullout of Pinoy peacekeepers may take 3 months’

MANILA, Philippines - The pullout of Filipino peacekeepers in three West African states due to Ebola may take up to three months, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

“It may take two to three months to complete the process,” DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said in a text message to reporters.

On Sunday, the DFA said it is preparing for the mandatory repatriation of Filipinos in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone over the threat posed by Ebola.

The Philippines is coordinating with the United Nations on the pullout of the Filipino peacekeepers.

Meanwhile, on the planned repatriation of the 331-strong Filipino contingent in Golan Heights at the end of their tour of duty in October, the DFA said recent developments have exposed them to serious risks.

Jose noted that Filipino peacekeepers have been in Liberia for 10 years and in Golan Heights for five years, and “it has been established that there is a greater need for our soldiers to be in the Philippines.”

The defense department is optimistic the decision to pull out peacekeepers from Golan Heights and Liberia would not affect its relationship with the UN.  

“I don’t think so. When the conflict (in Syria) escalated, we stayed even if bigger countries decided to leave,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

“For now, the level of threat is high. We need to provide protection to every Filipino,” he added.

Gazmin said the Philippines is still open to sending peacekeepers to other mission areas.

“We are studying that. There will be a recommendation from the United Nations peacekeeping office and we will see where we can send troops,” he said.

Jaime delos Santos, chairman emeritus of the UN Veterans Association of the Philippines, admitted that the pullout could elicit negative reactions. – With Alexis Romero