Pinoy peacekeepers in Golan Heights to undergo training

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights will be trained in explosives, first aid and life support in combat after fighting a rearguard action against a superior force of al-Qaeda-linked Syrian rebels.

Col. Roberto Ancan, Armed Forces Peacekeeping Operations Center chief, said Filipino soldiers in Camp Ziouani will go through the training “to get themselves busy.” 

More than 100 soldiers, including those deployed in forward positions 60, 68 and 69, will undergo training, he added.

Seven Filipino officers and 51 enlisted men in position 60 were moved to a safer area two days before the clash with Syrian rebels.

The rearguard action occurred after the rebels surrounded and attacked the encampment of 40 Filipino peacekeepers in position 68.

Irish peacekeepers evacuated 35 Filipino peacekeepers in position 69, while those in position 68 fought the rebels for seven hours.

The outnumbered Filipino peacekeepers in position 68 escaped the siege under cover of darkness, with help from troops of Syria, Israel, the US and Qatar.

Ancan said 83 Filipino peacekeepers remain in position 80 in the Golan Heights near the Israeli border.

“We are still holding to position 80 which is our second company headquarters,” he said.

Other Filipino peacekeepers will no longer return to the positions they previously occupied.

Defiance of UN commander backed

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV believes Filipino peacekeepers were justified in defying an order from the commander of UN forces to surrender their arms to a superior force of Syrian rebels.

“Our troops there showed bravery,” he said. “There is no doubt about that.”

Speaking over dzBB radio, the former Navy officer said the Senate does not doubt the bravery of the Filipino troops and a resolution would be passed commending them and their action.

“We should give them proper commendation,” he said. “In fact, I am recommending them for on-the-spot promotion for their display of gallantry in action beyond the call of duty.”

Trillanes said no bad calls occur when the outcome of military operations turn out to be victorious.

“On the other hand, the Fijian peacekeepers were taken hostage,” he said. “They have now become a problem of the United Nations. So you cannot say theirs was a result of a good decision.” 

Trillanes said the Filipino troops displayed bravery in action in defying the order of the UN commander to surrender their weapons. – Alexis Romero, Christina Mendez