04 June 2014 – The Philippine National Police (PNP), in coordination with the National Council for United Nations Peace Operations (NCUNPO) and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), led the 2014 Philippine commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers to honor the memory of fallen Filipino peacekeepers and to pay tribute to those still serving in conflict areas overseas. The commemoration was held at the PNP Multipurpose Hall, Camp General Rafael Crame in Quezon City on May 29.
With the theme “United Nations Peacekeeping: A Force for Peace. A Force for Change. A Force for the Future,” the event was graced by Undersecretary for Public Safety Peter Irving C. Corvera as representative of Interior and Local Secretary Manuel A. Roxas. The National Council for United Nations Peace Operations (NCUNPO), an interagency body which oversees Philippine participation in United Nations peace operations, was represented by Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Evan P. Garcia and Defense Undersecretary Natalio C. Ecarma III. The event was attended by Ms. Luiza Carvalho, Resident Coordinator of the UN Country Team, representatives from the UN Country Team, members of the diplomatic corps and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of National Defense-Armed Forces of the Philippines (DND-AFP) and the DILG-PNP-Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
During the ceremony, Undersecretary Corvera, along with the representatives of the NCUNPO and the UN Resident Coordinator, presented certificates of appreciation to former Filipino peacekeepers who served under UN peace operations from 2013 to 2014. Certificates of recognition were awarded to members of the 2013 Philippine Assessment Team to the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights. The Assessment Team’s recommendations paved the way for the Philippines’ continued participation in the UNDOF and other peacekeeping mission areas within acceptable security threat conditions. The Team was led by current Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force (PAF), Lieutenant General Jeffrey Delgado, with Defense Undersecretary Ecarma, DFA Middle East and African Affairs Executive Director Nathaniel Imperial, NCUNPO Secretariat Executive Director Raphael S.C. Hermoso; DFA Second Secretary Robert Eric A. Borje and Colonel Pablo Lorenzo.
The highlight of the event was the awarding of the NCUNPO Award to civilian, military and police personnel for their outstanding contribution and meritorious performance with regard to the Philippines’ participation in UN peacekeeping missions. The NCUNPO Awards were conferred to Undersecretary Ecarma, in recognition of his role as the first Filipino to head a peacekeeping mission during his stint as Head of Mission (HoM) and Force Commander (FC) of the UNDOF; Philippine Ambassador to Iran Honorable Eduardo Martin R. Meñez in view of his significant contribution as Secretary-General of the NCUNPO Secretariat; Colonel Nilo Perfecto for his meritorious performance as Chief of the International Affairs Division (IAD) of the AFP Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans (OJ5); Police Chief Superintendent Edgar L. Layon for his leadership as Contingent Commander in the UN Mission in Support of East Timor (UNMISET); Police Chief Superintendent Wilfredo D. Franco for his service as Senior Team Leader of the Standing Police Capacity of the UN Logistics Base (UNLB) in Brindisi, Italy; Colonel Gregory M. Cayetano for his service as Commanding Officer of the AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center (AFPPKOC) during the Haiti Earthquake in 2010; Colonel Nilo R. Perfecto PA for his service as Chief of the International Affairs Division (IAD) of the AFP Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans J5 (AFP-OJ5); Police Chief Inspector Godofredo Ergo for his contribution as UN Police in the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH); Senior Police Officer 1 Elvira Evangelista for her contribution to the Afghan National Police while serving as UN Police in the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA); Technical Sergeant Herman L. Galiza for his courage and bravery during the attack on rotating Austrian and Croatian peacekeepers of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) who were able to leave Damascus International Airport without any casualties in March 2013; and Staff Sergeant Tito P. Malsi for his meritorious and invaluable service during a stand-off with Syrian Anti-Government Armed Elements (AGAEs) last year.
Recognition was also given to Sergeant Benson Angot, member of the 16th Philippine Contingent to the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and other Filipinos who lost their lives while carrying out their mandate under the auspices of the UN. Sgt. Angot is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ronalyn Angot and their children.
The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, celebrated every 29th day of May, in view of the memory of the UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the cause of peace, as well as pays tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in UN Peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage. The Philippine observance of the event was made official by Proclamation No. 1755, series of 2009. END