AFP honors first female UN peacekeeping commander

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. honored the first female commander of a Philippine contingent to a United Nations peacekeeping mission in a ceremony on Wednesday.

Navy Capt. Luzviminda Camacho received a UN Service Medal for leading the the country's 156-strong contingent to Haiti, which served for 11 months.

"I am very grateful and happy representing the Philippines, leading the 155 men and women of the Philippine Navy," Camacho said in a statement.

Camacho was part of the 17th Philippine contingent to Haiti, as security concerns over the elections continue following 2004 coup d'etat and ensuing violence.

She was accompanied by nine officers and 147 enlisted personne

l who were also awarded the UN Service Medal for securing key individuals of the UN mission as well as provide administrative and logistics services in the force headquarters.

"It was not hard. As officers, we have rules and regulations in leading the men and women of the armed forces," Camacho said.

Catapang, meanwhile, praised Camacho as a "very competent officer" who at 49 years old was hand picked for the job and outranked male colleagues due to her track record in the military.

"She has gained the respect not only of her fellow Filipino peacekeepers but also her foreign counterparts in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti," Catapang said.

The Philippine Contingent to Haiti gained prominence in 2010 when a powerful earthquake struck the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince killing more than 230,000 people. Three Filipino died in the disaster along with 93 others.