26 April 2016 - The Department of Foreign Affairs - Office of United Nations and International Organizations (UNIO) in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Peacekeeping Operations Center (AFPPKOC) and the Department of Military Science and Tactics (DMST) / Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) of the University of the Philippines, Diliman organized a UN Model Peacekeeping Seminar on April 11 at the UP DMST.

The seminar was led by Assistant Secretary Jesus R.S. Domingo, Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana of the AFPPKOC, and Atty. John S. Baroña of UP DMST. Participating in the seminar were UP ROTC Cadet Officers, led by Corps Commander Carlyn A. Villanueva. Assistant Secretary Domingo and Col. Illana lectured on the concept of UN Peacekeeping Operations and gave an overview of Philippine participation. Cpt. Dumaghan and Maj Ochea of the AFPPKOC discussed checkpoint and designated site operations.

Immediately after the lectures, the cadets donned the trademark Blue Helmets and vests of UN Peacekeepers and joined the AFPKOC in conducting a simulation of checkpoint and hostile environment operations.

The seminar was also attended by officers and staff from the Office of Middle Eastern and African Affairs and the Office of United Nations and International Organizations. END