24 August 2005 – Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto G. Romulo presented a check representing the death benefits of slain Filipino UN peacekeeper Staff Sergeant Antonio M. Batomalaque to his widow in simple ceremonies at the Secretary’s Office, DFA.

In presenting the cheque to Mrs. Merly Batomalaque, Secretary Romulo once again expressed his condolences to the slain peacekeeper’s widow and family, and also praised the late Sergeant Batomalaque, citing him as a “true peacekeeper, who embodies the valor and innate heroism of those who serve peace in a land of strife.”

Sergeant Batomalaque served as a member of the Philippine contingent for the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) peacekeeping force.  He was killed in the line of duty when his group was attacked by an unidentified number of gunmen in the notorious slum area of Cite Soleil in Haiti on 14 April 2005. (Please see previous press release AGR-210-05, 15 April 2005).

Ambassador Lauro L. Baja, Jr., the Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, described Sergeant Batomalaque as having died a hero’s death, being the first Filipino to be killed in action while serving in a UN peacekeeping operation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York assisted Sergeant Batomalaque’s widow in expeditiously claiming the death benefits from the UN, which rewarded the heroism that her husband showed before his untimely death.

Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Jose Brillantes joined Secretary Romulo in presenting the cheque to Sgt. Batomalaque’s widow.END.