Heroes’ Welcome awaits Filipino peacekeepers after completing quarantine

Filipino UN Peacekeepers (Chameleons Eye / ShutterStock)

MANILA — With their 21-day quarantine period about to be completed this coming Dec. 3, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that a heroes’ welcome will be extended to the 133 Filipino peacekeepers who were placed in isolation at Caballo Island since Nov. 13.

The peacekeepers are members of the 18th Philippine Contingent to Liberia who returned to the country last Nov.

12 after a tour of duty in Ebola-wracked Liberia.

AFP public affairs office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc said that families of the peacekeepers would be present in the ceremonies to be held near the AFP Grandstand in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

He declined to give more details as the plans are still being ironed out.

All the peacekeepers will be given the United Nations Service Medal in recognition of their peacekeeping service.

Cabunoc said that the peacekeepers would be spending the Christmas Holidays with their loved ones after the welcoming and awarding ceremonies.

Incidentally, the AFP will also light up its giant Christmas Tree in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on the same day.