Filipino peacekeepers get United Nations Service Medal

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) formally awarded the United Nations Service Medal to the 332-strong 6th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights Wednesday.

The latter were warmly congratulated and feted by AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista for accomplishing their mission despite constant threats on their safety.

The 6th Philippine Contingent to Golan Heights was headed by Lt. Col. Nolie L. Anquillano.

The Filipino troopers completed their one-year deployment despite receiving worldwide attention with two incidents of being held in captivity by Syrian rebels in March and in May this year.

Despite being released safely on both occasions, questions on their immediate pull-out were raised.

The Philippine government continued the all-Philippine Army contingent’s deployment after the UN agreed to bolster the safety of the UN peacekeeping force.

Meanwhile, the 115-strong 17th Philippine Contingent to Liberia (PCL), which was deployed in July last year, completed their mission of assisting in the maintenance of law and order in the country following a ceasefire that ended the Second Liberian Civil War.

The all-Philippine Air Force contingent was led by its contingent commander, Col. Fidel Igmedio T. Cruz Jr.

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