RP peacekeepers in conflict areas at all-time high

A record number of over a thousand Filipino peacekeepers are currently deployed in various conflict areas worldwide, according to a report Monday by the Philippine Mission to the United Nations. Ambassador Hilario G. Davide Jr., Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), said a total of 1,056 military and police peacekeepers are serving in nine UN peacekeeping missions as of 2009. The figure represents a 40-percent increase in troop deployments from 2008, which pushed the Philippines to the 23rd position in the list of the top troop and police contributing countries, according to Davide. In 2008, the country was 29th in the list at the end of 2008 with 626 peacekeepers deployed across the world. Of the latest figure, 656 are officers and enlisted personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), while 415 are officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP). Majority of the AFP officers and personnel deployed are part of the peacekeeping infantry battalion in Golan Heights, humanitarian troop in Darfur, military observer group in Kashmir, and the stabilization mission in Haiti. The rest are serving as military observers, liaison officers and staff officers in Sudan, Cote d’Ivore, Kashmir and Timor Leste. The PNP officers are similarly deployed in Darfur, Liberia, Sudan, Timor Leste and Haiti, with a lone officer assigned in Afghanistan. “[These] represent the largest number of Filipino peacekeepers deployed overseas since the Philippines participated in its first UN peacekeeping operation during the term of President Diosdado P. Macapagal," Davide said. The Philippines first participated in UN peacekeeping operations in 1963 when it contributed a 40-member squadron from the Philippine Air Force to provide air support for the UN mission in the Congo, according to Davide. He added that the highest number of Filipino peacekeepers deployed abroad prior to last year was in 2000 when the Philippines had 807 military and police personnel supporting UN operations in Timor-Leste. “We are proud of the fact that despite our limited resources, we were still able to fulfill our obligations as a member of the family of nations," Ambassador Davide said, as he assured the UN that it can continue counting on the Philippines as a responsible and reliable peacekeeping partner. – Jerrie M. Abella/JV, GMANews.TV