(PUERTO GALERA, ORIENTAL MINDORO) President Benigno S. Aquino III said here Friday that Filipino soldiers serving as United Nations (UN) peacekeepers in the Golan Heights remain safe despite a stand-off with Syrian rebels.
“Sa ngayon, bagama’t tense ang sitwasyon ay tila wala naman ho talagang masasabi nating panganib na inuulat sa ating Kagawaran ng Tanggulan,” said President Aquino.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a bulletin issued on Friday that Syrian rebels surrounded the camp of Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights on Thursday (August 28), demanding the troops surrender their weapons.
The Filipino peacekeepers however refused, resulting in a stand-off with the rebels.
Earlier, the rebels occupied the camp of 43 Fiji peacekeepers, demanded they surrender their firearms, and took them as hostages.
President Aquino, who was in Oriental Mindoro to inspect infrastructure projects, said he was asked to return to Manila immediately after the event.
“Ang plano ho kasi masubukan kong maging turista ngayong gabi dito sa Mindoro Oriental. ‘Yon ho ‘yung plano. ‘Yung katotohanan ho pinababalik na ako sa Maynila pagkatapos nito dahil meron tayong konting problema sa Golan Heights, doon sa ating mga peacekeepers na nadamay ‘dun sa civil war na nangyayari po sa Syria,” he said in his speech.
“Pero, so far e mukhang–huwag ho tayong kabahan. Ang balita e mukhang stable ang sitwasyon,” he added.
Expressing concern over the safety of the Filipino soldiers, the AFP said the government and UN officials are already trying to peacefully resolve the situation.
“We are in direct communication with our peacekeepers and with the UN Force Headquarters in the Golan Heights, as options and contingency plans are being drawn and considered,” it said in the bulletin.
“We will exert all efforts to ensure the safety and security of our peacekeepers,” the AFP said. (PND)