6 Pinoy soldiers trapped in Ivory Coast violence

Six Filipino soldiers are currently trapped in strife-torn Ivory Coast where clashes continue to rage between forces of strongman Laurent Gbagbo and an internationally-recognized leader. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said one of the six officers, Lt. Col. George Tagle, reported to them that their condition is “unstable because of the heavy fighting." “According to him, UN staff at the UN Headquarters are targeted by the pro-Gbagbo forces and are trapped in the basement of the Seborko hotel," said Burgos of Tagle, an Air Force officer. Gbagbo is refusing to give up power to the internationally recognized Ivory Coast president Alassane Ouattara following a defeat in last November’s election. The violence started last March 30. “Tagle is part of the staff that is staying outside the said hotel and is confined and restricted in his residence at Graciela Apartment since March 30 when fierce fighting erupted," Burgos said. The five other Filipino soldiers in Ivory Coast are Navy Lcdr. Jorge Vicente, military lawyer Lt. Col. Emilio Felicen, Army majors Marces Gayat and Arthur Romanillos, and Air Force Maj. Randy Bance. AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Oban said despite the tension, the six Filipino soldiers are safe. “His (Tagle’s) fellow Filipino UN Military Observers are safe and out of danger," said Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban said. Burgos said the six officers were unarmed because they were only serving as observers. He said it will be up to the UN whether to pull out its people from the troubled nation. - KBK, GMA News