MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 7, 2013) – Syrian rebels have seized 21 Filipino peacekeepers in the Golan Heights.
The Philippines on Thursday strongly condemned the capture of the Filipino contingent which is under the command of the United Nations.
“The apprehension and illegal detention of the Filipino peacekeepers are gross violations of international law,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a statement sent to the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner.
The captors demanded that President Bashar al-Assad pull out his forces from areas being by rebels in exchange for the safe release of the peacekeepers.
Manila said it is working very closely with the United Nations, United States, United Kingdom, France and Germany for the early and safe release of the Filipinos assigned to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force.
It said negotiations are underway to secure the safe release of the soldiers.
“The main concern of the Philippine Government at this time is to ensure the safety and well-being of our peacekeepers. We wish to reiterate that UNDOF’s freedom of movement and safety and security must be respected by all parties in the area,” Del Rosario said.
20