President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the Heroes’ Welcome Ceremony for the 7th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (October 01, 2014). (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday said the Philippines cannot just send another batch of peacekeepers to a “mission impossible” in Golan Heights.
In an impromptu speech on Wednesday, Aquino said the Philippine government will wait for the results of the United Nations (UN)’s probe on the Golan Heights standoff involving Filipino peacekeepers last month before deciding whether it will deploy new troops to the area.
“Hindi pwedeng dadalhin ang ating mga tropa sa isang sitwasyon na imposible o hindi maliwanag ang misyon,” the President said during awarding ceremonies of some Filipino peacekeepers in Malacañang.
Aquino also once again defended the Filipino peacekeepers’ decision to escape during a standoff with Syrian rebels in Golan Heights.
“Simpleng-simple lang naman ho ‘yon e. Kapag tayo’y ginawang hostage, ‘di lalong magiging kumplikado ang problema. At talagang limitado naman ang kakayahan natin na magpadala ng rescue force dito at ating pinanindigan ito,” he said.
In late August, 75 Filipino peacekeepers figured in a standoff with Syrian rebels, which ended that weekend with them escaping after a seven-hour clash.
Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. later revealed that Filipino peacekeepers had to defy an order from Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Singha, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) commander, to be able to escape from the militants.
Singha, who Catapang wants probed, supposedly wanted the Filipino troops to lay down their firearms to ensure the safety of their Fijian counterparts, who were seized by Syrian rebels. The Fijian peacekeepers were eventually released by the rebels.
UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping, Herve Ladsous, said however that no such order was given. He explained that the order to Filipino troops was simply “not to shoot.”
Singha meanwhile told India Today that the Filipino peacekeepers “defied orders” and were “unprofessional.” (MNS)