Philippines to continue UN help despite abductions

Philippine military officials say their country remains committed to deploying troops in UN peacekeeping hotspots despite the brief hostage-taking of 21 Filipino soldiers, who were welcomed back to freedom in Jordan with a traditional military feast.

Philippine military officials say their country remains committed to deploying troops in UN peacekeeping hotspots despite the brief hostage-taking of 21 Filipino soldiers, who were welcomed back to freedom in Jordan with a traditional military feast.

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The unarmed Filipino peacekeepers were abducted on Wednesday in southern Syria near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights by one of the rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime. After negotiations, they were freed yesterday on Jordan's border and taken to a hotel in Amman.

Philippine military spokesman Colonel Arnulfo Burgos says the government's pledge to help in UN peacekeeping missions "is a global commitment" but added security will be improved for the troops' safety.

A Filipino army major was also briefly held in the Golan Heights last January by anti-Assad rebels.