Senate praises bravery of Filipino peacekeepers

The Senate today adopted a resolution commending the Filipino peacekeepers stationed at the Golan Heights for exhibiting bravery and resolve during a tense standoff against Syrian rebels.

Senate Resolutions 876, taking in consideration Senate Resolutions 877, 881 and 899, introduced by Senators Manuel "Lito" Lapid, Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV, Teofisto "TG" Guingona III and Antonio "Sonny Trillanes IV lauded the "extraordinary valor" shown by the Filipino peacekeepers."

According to the resolutions, the Filipino peacekeepers, together with the United Nations peacekeeping force, have been stationed in Golan Heights since 1974 to monitor a ceasefire between Israel and Syria.

Of the 331-strong Filipino contingent serving as part of the United Nations Disengagement Force in the Golan Heights, 75 were encamped at the region's Positions 68 and 69.

On August 28, 2014, Syrian rebels surrounded the two encampments and demanded that the Filipino peacekeepers surrender their firearms. Filipino peacekeepers refused, resulting in a standoff.

On August 30, 2014, 40 Filipino soldiers valiantly held their ground as around 100 rebels attacked Position 68 while 35 Filipino peacekeepers from Position 69 managed to leave their encampment with Irish peacekeepers securing their escape route. At midnight of the same day, the 40 Filipino soldiers from Position 68 also managed to flee, walking 2.3 kilometers to safety, as the rebels slept.

"Our Filipino peacekeepers exhibited extraordinary valor above and beyond their call of duty, demonstrating once again that Filipinos are among the bravest peacekeepers in the world," Guingona said.

"Our soldiers' brave front only proves that Filipinos will not back down from any challenge that we face," said Senator Bam Aquino, who dubbed the Filipino peacekeepers as the new "action heroes of the world" for their bravery and resolve during a standoff with Syrian rebels in Golan Heights.(Yvonne Almiranez)