48 Pinoy peacekeepers were given awards for their contribution to UN missions in the past year

48 Pinoy peacekeepers were given awards by the Department of National Defense on Monday. The peacekeepers were honored for their contribution to the United Nations’ peacekeeping missions.

The 48 peacekeepers were consist of one official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 30 soldiers and 17 policemen who have served in the Golan Heights, India, Pakistan and Haiti respectively.

The awarding ceremony was held in Camp Aguinaldo in celebration of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. According to the resident coordinator in the Philippines, Praveen Agrawal—ad, describes the Philippines as one of the UN’s most reliable partner in supporting to maintain peace. The event was also held in commemoration for those who pass on because of the UN missions.

The Defense Undersecretary Natalio Ecarma III expressed his commendation by saying, “People rightly tremble at the approach of war, but there are men and women who rather than fleeing danger, stand in the breach left by the crumbling society, not to fight but to keep civilians safe from the crossfire. These men and women are our UN peacekeepers.”

The peacekeepers has face terrible risk just to maintain the peace and order within the scope. According to him, before the millennium there are about three dozen could loss their lives just to maintain peace. It is reported that there are about 175 filipino soldiers and policemen deployed to UN missions in the current time.