18 December 2013 - United Nations Undersecretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Herve Ladsous has commended the Philippines for the professionalism and commitment of its peacekeepers, saying that they deserve to be “recognized” and “saluted.”

Speaking at a closed-door meeting by the Security Council for Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights on December 10, Undersecretary-General Ladsous thanked the Philippines for its continued deep engagement with UN peacekeeping operations.  While conveying his regrets and solidarity with what happened in the Central Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), Undersecretary-General Ladsous said that despite the “terrible catastrophe” that devastated the country, Filipino peacekeepers throughout the world have “continued to work in a most professional way.”

For this dedication, commitment and professionalism, “They deserve to be recognized and saluted,” Undersecretary-General emphasized.

The Philippines currently has 333 personnel in UNDOF and is the second largest TCC to the Mission after Fiji which has 509 personnel.

The Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan, welcomed Undersecretary-General Ladsous’ statement noting that “The Philippines has a very positive peacekeeping engagement and we work very closely with all stakeholders, including the UN Secretariat, to ensure that we live up to our international commitments consistent with sovereign interests and concerns.”  END