MANILA, Aug. 16 (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III wants a detailed assessment of how safe Filipino peacekeepers are in Liberia and Golan Heights in the midst of security and health threats in those areas, a Palace official said.
It was reported that the Department of National Defense made a recommendation for the pullout of Filipino peacekeepers in Golan Heights and Liberia because of increasing tensions in the Middle East and the spread of Ebola virus in Africa.
“I had a chance to speak to the President about this lately and ang sabi we’re still trying to see what are the available protection for our soldiers who are there,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday.
Valte said her impression is that the President has not made a decision yet whether to bring home the peacekeepers or retain them there.
But the Palace official said it is the President’s paramount concern to ensure the safety of Filipino soldiers deployed overseas for peacekeeping missions.
Recently, a Filipino peacekeeper was injured while performing his duties in the Golan Heights because of deteriorating security conditions there.
In Africa, there are also concerns on the safety of peacekeepers as the Ebola virus continues to ravage several African countries such and Liberia and Sierra Leone, which already posted many casualties.
“Ang tinatanong din ng Pangulo, syempre, ayaw niyang malagay sa peligro ang ating mga sundalo. Maraming mga reported cases and deaths related to Ebola sa Liberia,” Valte said.
“Gustong malaman ng Pangulo what available safeguards are in place.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs is the one coordinating with the United Nations when there are certain concerns on the country’s peacekeepers, she added.