Cablegate: Philippine Contributions to International
VZCZCXRO1956
OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHML #2259/01 1840827
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 030827Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7267
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHHMUNA/CDRUSPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MANILA 002259
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR PM, EAP, EAP/RSP, AND EAP/MTS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MCAP MARR IV LI HA AF YI SU TT RP
SUBJECT: PHILIPPINE CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL
PEACEKEEPING
REF: MANILA 01947
1. (SBU) Summary: With over 600 soldiers, police officers,
and military observers currently deployed to seven countries,
the Philippines remains an important contributor to
international peacekeeping efforts. These deployments
highlight the government's continuing policy of supporting UN
peacekeeping operations despite its own manpower shortages,
particularly in the Philippine National Police (PNP), as well
as the overall high quality and good English language skills
of the Philippine participants. The government has been
appreciative of U.S.-funded peacekeeping-related training and
assistance in the past, and is likely to sign up for the
Global Peace Operations Initiative and to continue to
volunteer for various UN peacekeeping operations. End Summary.
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Active Contributor
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2. (U) According to statistics from the United Nations
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (UNDPKO), the
Philippines (as of May 2007) had 627 peacekeepers currently
deployed in seven countries: Timor Leste, Liberia, Sudan,
Kosovo, Haiti, Afghanistan, and the Ivory Coast. (Statistics
in para 6.) Among ASEAN countries, the Philippines ranks
behind Indonesia and Malaysia in terms of total peacekeepers
deployed, but is first for police personnel in the field.
Worldwide, the Philippines the 29th largest contributor of
peacekeepers. Philippine participants in peacekeeping
operations in Liberia, Timor Leste, and Haiti have won
special commendations from the UNDPKO, which has frequently
sought to extend the tours of high performing individuals.
Among other qualifications, the high English language skills
of Philippine troops are especially welcome.
3. (SBU) Philippine officials including Foreign Secretary
Alberto G. Romulo have reiterated repeatedly their
government's commitment to continuing to play an active role
in UN peacekeeping operations, while senior officers of the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the PNP have noted
how much their own troops welcome the opportunity to serve in
these capacities and how much they themselves benefit from
the experiences. Officials have commented, however, that
resource constraints, notably a manpower shortage in the PNP,
are a limiting factor.
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U.S. Assistance for Philippine Peacekeeping
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4. (SBU) Both the government and the AFP have specifically
welcomed various U.S. training for Philippine peacekeepers.
Through the Joint U.S. Military Action Group (JUSMAG), the
Embassy extended peacekeeping operations training to six AFP
personnel in FY 2006 and six more thus far in FY 2007.
JUSMAG most recently arranged training for several AFP
personnel at a Peacekeeping Operations Seminar in Cambodia,
and is currently vetting two additional soldiers for the
Multinational Peace Support Operations Exercise in Mongolia
in August. In the immediate future, JUSMAG plans to invite
the AFP to nominate additional personnel for a number of
upcoming peacekeeping courses hosted regionally, including
courses on civil military coordination, peace operations
instructors training, and United Nations staff officers
training. The AFP is now considering standing up a dedicated
AFP battalion to support UN peacekeeping operations,
according to AFP Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon.
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Comment: GPOI participation likely
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5. (SBU) While the Philippine government has yet to respond
to our invitation to participate in the Global Peace
Operations Initiative (GPOI), Embassy has high confidence
that we will receive a positive answer in the coming weeks.
Both Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Political
Military Affairs and Pacific Commander Admiral Keating have
raised GPOI with senior Philippine officials during recent
visits, and heard expressions of high interest and general
support, especially in light of our willingness to provide up
to $394,000 in GPOI funding to train and equip Philippine
peacekeepers. The Department of Foreign Affairs is now "fast
tracking" our invitation; we suspect the only slow down is
the detailed examination by DFA legal experts of the required
section 505 agreement. We also expect to see Philippine
MANILA 00002259 002 OF 002
participation in many UN peacekeeping operations in the
future, as in the past. End comment
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UNDPKO Statistics on Philippine Peacekeeping Contributions
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6. (U) The breakdown of Philippine peacekeeping
contributions according to the UNDPKO (as of May, 2007):
- Haiti: 156 troops, 12 police
- Afghanistan: 1 police
- Kosovo: 44 police
- Liberia: 169 troops, 29 police, 3 military observers
- Sudan: 39 police, 13 military observers
- Timor Leste: 145 police, 3 military observers
- Ivory Coast: 3 troops, 6 police, 4 military observers
Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm
KENNEY