Firstly, more conflicts just arise which are caused by the ineffectiveness of the execution of

the aims of the United Nations in promoting long lasting peace in a country torn by conflict. First
of all, this is an idealistic and ambitious aim of the United Nations. Instead of successfully
promoting this unachievable goal, reality presents a different picture wherein more disputes arise
due to the intervention of the peacekeepers deployed from other countries. This is because of the
different trainings that they have learned from their country which will result to conflicts. If more
conflicts arise, it can be inferred that the security of more peacekeepers will be at risk.
Secondly, in relation to this, their safety and security can also be impaired due to the forces
and events that are beyond the control of the Philippine government and of the United Nations.
According to a journal of the United Nations, deployed peacekeepers are being sent into
increasingly dangerous and difficult situations sometimes without the existence of a peace
agreement by the conflicting parties. In relation to this, an incident happened just a month ago
wherein 75 Filipino peacekeepers, who were monitoring the buffer zone between Syria and
Israel, were surrounded and attacked by the Syrian rebels. Needless to say, this incident puts the
safety and security of the Filipino peacekeepers at stake. Department of Foreign Affairs
Secretary Albert del Rosario argued that the United Nations needs to revisit the outstanding
operational and tactical issues including the UNs command and control versus the safety and
security of peacekeepers during kidnapping and siege incidents. Favoring the safety and
security of the Filipino peacekeepers, President Benigno Aquino III stated that Philippine troops
cannot be deployed to help in a situation where their mission is impossible or unclear. Thus,
behind the assumption that danger, insecurity, and possible death is in the nature of their job as
peacekeepers, one cannot deny the fact that whatever the nature of his/her job is, he/she is still
entitled with human rights.
Thirdly, the mental and physical health of the peacekeepers is put at risk. It cannot be denied
that the usual places, where the deployed peacekeepers are stationed, are not conducive and
usually detrimental to ones health. Due to this kind of environment, it is more likely that
deployed Filipino peacekeepers have a high possibility of contracting different diseases.
Moreover, being exposed to everyday scenarios portraying bloodshed can impair the mental
health of an individual. What is worse is that they are miles away from their country and from
their family unlike when they are exercising their duties as militants or as police officers within
the Philippines. Due to this, their mental health is in even more put in peril. This is proven in a
study conducted among Canadian peacekeepers deployed in Afghanistan. In this study, it was
found out that 5% of them acquired symptoms of depression after being deployed in the said
country. One cannot point out that he/she, as a peacekeeper, must already be used to it since it is
part of his job to witness and be involved in combats because as an individual, his/her health
must still be prioritized while rendering service to others.
Once again, this house does not support for the deployment of Filipino peacekeepers due to
the risks involved.