20 April 2005—The long journey home for Technical Sergeant Antonio M. Batomalaque, the Filipino peacekeeper killed in action in Haiti last week, began Wednesday with ceremonies honoring his sacrifice at the headquarters in Port-au-Prince of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH).  In their eulogies, the fallen peacekeeper was cited for his bravery by Lt. Gen. Augusto Ribeiro Heleno Pereira, MINUSTAH force commander; Mr. Hocine Medili, deputy special representative of the UN Secretary General; and Lt. Col. Daniel Lucero, Philippine contingent commander. The remains left Haiti Wednesday and are scheduled to arrive in Manila on Saturday.

Earlier in the ceremony, General Heleno Pereira and Deputy SRSG Midili placed a wreath on the casket.  Major General Edgardo Lugani of Argentina, deputy MINUSTAH force commander, saluted the fallen peacekeeper.  Filipino priest Andrew Labatoria CICM blessed the remains.

The 22-year Philippine Army veteran died from a bullet wound to the head after gang members opened fire on a group of UN peacekeepers who were conducting security operations at the notorious seaside slum of Cite Soleil in the Haitian capital on Thursday, 14 April.
 

/jay