Filipino peacekeepers. 蜜桃工作室 PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines鈥擣rom the Chief Executive to the Chief of Staff, this time it鈥檚 the Army Chief who would give them the recognition.
After paying a visit to President Benigno Aquino III in Malaca帽ang and General Gregorio Pio Catapang, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in Camp Aguinaldo, the 7th Philippine Contingent to the Golan Heights returned to their major service, the Philippine Army, in Fort Bonifacio.
Lieutenant General Hernando Iriberri, Commanding General Philippine Army, on Thursday awarded the 360 men, all of whom are from the Philippine Army, in attendance with the 鈥淪agisag ng Ulirang Kawal鈥� medal.
Lieutenant Colonel Noel Detoyato, Philippine Army Spokesman, said the medal was to honor the United Nations peacekeepers in Golan Heights who have served both the UN and the Philippines in their 10-month tour of duty in the disputed area.
Syria and Israel both lay claim to Golan Heights.
鈥淭he 鈥楽agisag ng Ulirang Kawal鈥� is a medal given to soldiers for extraordinary accomplishments in the field related to peace building and community services,鈥� Detoyato said.
Leading the Peacekeepers in their recognition at the Army General Headquarters in Taguig was Colonel Ezra Enriquez, 7th PCGH Commander.
Also in attendance was Colonel Roberto Ancan, Philippine Peacekeeping Operations Commander.
Enriquez, who was also Chief of Staff of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, defied the orders of Lieutenant General Iqbal Singh Singha, Undof Force Commander, to lay down their arms for the safe return of the Fijian Peacekeepers and went on with the 鈥淕reatest Escape鈥� that Captain Nilo Ramones and his men in Position 68 initiated.