Fidel V. Ramos     “President Duterte’s visit to South Korea a milestone of ROK’s new initiative for ASEAN….” — ROK Ambassador Han Dong Man, Manila Bulletin, 04 June 2018 By FIDEL V. RAMOS FORMER PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT   “Among ASEAN member states, the Philippines was the first country with which ROK established relations and is also ROK’s blood-ally that sent troops to fight Communism during the Korean War.” Please revisit FVR’s earlier historical narrations regarding this first deployment of AFP troops abroad to help defend freedom and maintain democracy in the Korean Peninsula, thereby doing the same for our Philippine homeland like “Revisiting Korea: Prospects for Peace” (Manila Bulletin, 29 August 2010) and “60th Year: Korean Armistice Anniversary” (First Part) and “Peace Prospects: South-North Korea” (Last Part), (Manila Bulletin, 28 July and 04 August 2013, respectively). SUCH IS THE BASIC CONTEXT IN WHICH 16 ASIA-PACIFIC COUNTRIES DEPLOYED COMBAT TROOPS TO THE BELEAGUERED SOUTH KOREAN NATION, IN PARTICULAR THE 5 BATTALION COMBAT TEAMS THAT CONSTITUTED THE PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCES TO KOREA (PEFTOK) IN THE 10TH, 20TH, 19TH, 14TH, AND THE 2ND IN THAT ORDER. FIVE OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE INDIA SENT MILITARY HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT THE MULTINATIONAL UN COMBAT FORCES. THUS, THE ALLIANCE OF OUR TWO COUNTRIES IS WRITTEN IN BLOOD AND UNDERLINED BY THE EXTREME SACRIFICES OF OUR TWO PEOPLES FOR EACH OTHER. AND, THIS IS THE REAL REASON FOR RPDEV’S INTENDED COCKTAIL RECEPTION ON 24 JUNE 2018 AT THE PHILIPPINES-KOREA FRIENDSHIP CENTER NEAR THE LIBINGAN NG MGA BAYANI, FORT BONIFACIO – AT WHICH PRRD IS THE INVITED GUEST OF HONOR. THE DEPTH OF THE SOUTH KOREAN PEOPLE’S GRATITUDE IS MANIFESTED BY THE FACT THE ROK GOVERNMENT UNDERTOOK THE CONSTRUCTION OF OUR FRIENDSHIP CENTER ON LAND MADE AVAILABLE BY THE DND-AFP. IN HIS ARTICLE TITLED “P. DUTERTE AND MALACAÑANG NEED TO LEARN MORE” (MANILA BULLETIN, 27 NOVEMBER 2016), FVR STRESSED THAT: “….. DEFINITELY, THE PHILIPPINES WAS NOT ‘BULLIED’ NEITHER DRAGGED TO JOIN THE WEST IN FOREIGN WARS,” AS ALLEGED BY THE COMMUNIST BLOC. THUS, MANY AFP VETERANS OF THE KOREAN WAR FEEL TRIVIALIZED AND STUNG BY SUCH WORDS – AS IF WE WERE MERCENARIES AND NOT LOYAL FILIPINO SOLDIERS WHO HAD VOLUNTEERED “TO HELP DEFEND FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY” IN KOREA AGAINST COMMUNIST NORTH KOREA, WHICH WAS SUPPORTED BY COMMUNIST CHINA AND COMMUNIST SOVIET RUSSIA. WE WERE, IN FACT, FILIPINO SOLDIERS ALSO “FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY” FOR OUR HOMELAND AGAINST HUKBALAHAP COMMUNISTS.   WE HOPE P.DU30 AND HIS MALACAÑANG COHORTS WILL CONSIDER THESE “CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS” CITED BELOW BY FVR, AN ELDERLY BROTHER OF OUR VAST, EXTENDED FILIPINO FAMILY – IN OUR COMMON ASPIRATION TO MOVE OUR PHILIPPINE TEAM FORWARD FASTER.   THE UNITED NATIONS CALL TO ACTION   IT WILL BE RECALLED THAT THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL (THEN BOYCOTTED BY THE USSR) PASSED A RESOLUTION ON 27 JUNE 1950, ASKING UN MEMBERS TO JOIN WHAT WAS WRONGLY CALLED A “POLICE ACTION” IN KOREA.   In response to the UN’s call for assistance, the Philippines decided to send troops to the Korean peninsula, despite the fact that contributing a significant part of our Armed Forces was inopportune at that time. In 1950, the Philippines was just a new four-year old Republic, having become independent in July 1946 and still recovering from WWII. In view of the unfavorable post-war conditions then obtaining, our people were initially not entirely sold to the idea of deploying our troops to fight abroad. (KINDLY REVISIT THE DND-PVAO CLASSIC “FILIPINOS IN THE KOREAN WAR” BY DR. CESAR POBRE, PMA ‘52). But what probably made our leaders decide to provide assistance to the Republic of Korea was the intercession of General Carlos P. Romulo, then president of the UN General Assembly. In a passionate entreaty, he explained to President Elpidio Quirino and the Philippine Senate, that to participate in the Korean War was not only in the Philippines’ national interest but a duty it had to perform as a UN member-nation. Further, Romulo explained that the UNS.C. resolution did not “tear asunder” the war renunciation provision of the Philippine Constitution. Why? Because – he went on to argue – Philippine participation was not an act of aggression; it was merely in response to the UN’s call for assistance.   ROMULO WAS MOST PERSUASIVE. HIS INTERNATIONAL STATURE, LOGIC, AND ELOQUENCE DID THE TRICK. AND ULTIMATELY, ROMULO WOULD SECURE PRESIDENT QUIRINO’S NOD AND CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT NEEDED TO ACTUALIZE THE FORMATION OF THE “PHILIPPINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO KOREA (PEFTOK)”.   PEFTOK AND ITS FIVE BCTS   TO FORMALIZE PHILIPPINE ASSISTANCE TO THE UN WAR EFFORT, THE LEGISLATORS ENACTED REPUBLIC ACT 573, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “PHILIPPINE MILITARY AID TO THE UNITED NATIONS ACT,” ON 07 SEPTEMBER 1950.   THE DISPATCH OF MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO KOREA DISTINGUISHED THE PHILIPPINES AS THE FIRST ASIAN COUNTRY TO RESPOND TO THE UNS.C. RESOLUTION. The PEFTOK, which consisted of five Battalion Combat Teams (BCTs) deployed over a period of five years, was a component of the UN Command (UNC). Throughout its tenure of service, the PEFTOK operated successively with the US 1st Cavalry Division, 3rd Infantry Division, 25th Infantry Division, and 45th Infantry Division. The 16 Allied nations of the UNC which deployed combat forces, arranged by their number of participants during the entire course of the fighting, were as follows:

• UNITED STATES – 1,789,000
• SOUTH KOREA – 590,911 (Note: The RoK was part of the UNC -- the command structure for all Allied troops)
• UNITED KINGDOM – 56,000
• CANADA – 25,687
• TURKEY – 14,936
• AUSTRALIA – 8,407
• PHILIPPINES – 7,420
• THAILAND – 6,326
• THE NETHERLANDS – 5,322
• COLOMBIA – 5,100
• GREECE – 4,992
• NEW ZEALAND – 3,794
• ETHIOPIA – 3,518
• FRANCE – 3,421
• SOUTH AFRICA – 826
• LUXEMBURG – 83

  The Philippines decided to save time by choosing an existing unit to serve on the Korean frontlines, where help was immediately needed. The 10th BCT was selected as the initial PEFTOK contingent because it was the AFP’s best-trained armor/motorized unit. The 10th BCT was experienced in mobile/counter-insurgency/ counter-guerrilla operations in rugged and forested areas – which were valuable assets for those earmarked for the Korean frontlines. As of early 1950, the 10th BCT was composed of an infantry battalion with a company of medium tanks (M4 Sherman), a company of light tanks (M5 Stuart), a company of armored reconnaissance vehicles, and an artillery battery. In addition, it had medical, engineer, signal, and supply units. ITS TOTAL STRENGTH WAS 64 OFFICERS AND 1,303 ENLISTED MEN, BUT THEY WERE ILL-EQUIPPED FOR COMBAT IN FREEZING WINTER.   HIGH MORALE OF FILIPINOS   THE ENTHUSIASTIC PUBLIC SEND-OFF FOR THE 10TH BCT REACHED FEVER-PITCH ON 2 SEPTEMBER 1950, A DAY LIKE NO OTHER IN THE ANNALS OF PHILIPPINE HISTORY. ON THAT DAY, THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE 10TH BCT ASSEMBLED IN THE RIZAL MEMORIAL STADIUM.   In full battle gear, they stood proud before some 60,000 exuberant Filipinos and foreign diplomats who had converged to cheer in the send-off rites. It was the first rally of its kind ever to applaud an AFP contingent headed for overseas. Prominent personalities, high Government officials, civic groups, and religious leaders attended. Among them were Monsignor Gabriel Reyes, Archbishop of Manila, who showered God’s blessings on our departing soldiers; Defense Secretary Ramon Magsaysay, who delivered an inspirational speech; General Carlos P. Romulo, President of the UN General Assembly, who handed the UN flag to Colonel Mariano Azurin, 10th BCT commander; and President Elpidio Quirino, who gave the Philippine flag also to Colonel Azurin.   In his speech, President Quirino said:   “TODAY WE WRITE A WONDERFUL PAGE IN OUR HISTORY. MANY OF YOU HAVE FOUGHT ON OUR SOIL TO SECURE FREEDOM. YOU NOW GO FORTH TO A FOREIGN LAND TO FIGHT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THAT FREEDOM… WHAT YOU WILL DO… WILL PROVE TO THE WORLD THAT THIS REPUBLIC AND ALL OF YOU WHO ARE PART OF IT HAVE THE WILL AND POWER TO MAKE OUR OWN LIVES AS WE WANT THEM TO BE, AND TO KEEP THEM THAT WAY.” To stress the historical significance of our participation in the Korean conflict, President Quirino added that the battalion’s warriors would be the first to carry the Philippine flag abroad in the war for freedom. Romulo reinforced President Quirino, saying: “YOU WILL BE THE FIRST FILIPINOS SINCE THE REVOLUTION TO GO INTO BATTLE AS SOLDIERS OF A FREE REPUBLIC. AND YOU WILL BE FIGHTING IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS, THE LAST BEST HOPE OF MANKIND… YOURS IS A HISTORIC MISSION. UNDER THESE TWO FLAGS… YOU CARRY WITH YOU THE HONOR OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE HOPE OF THE WORLD.”   CONCLUSION   THE FIVE BCTS WERE COMMANDED BY OUTSTANDING OFFICERS, NAMELY: COLONEL MARIANO AZURIN THEN COLONEL DIONISIO OJEDA, 10TH BCT; COLONEL SALVADOR ABCEDE, 20TH BCT; COLONEL RAMON AGUIRRE, 19TH BCT; COLONEL NICANOR JIMENEZ, 14TH BCT; AND COLONEL ANTONIO DE VEYRA THEN COLONEL REYNALDO MENDOZA, 2ND BCT. OF THE 7,420 FILIPINO OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FOUGHT IN KOREA, 114 WERE KILLED IN ACTION, 299 WOUNDED, AND 51 MISSING – 41 OF WHOM WERE REPATRIATED DURING THE EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS-OF-WAR. IN OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE KOREAN WAR, AFP VOLUNTEERS FOUGHT UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF PHILIPPINE CONGRESS, THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT/COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, AND THEIR COMMANDING OFFICERS – ALL FILIPINOS. THE HARDSHIPS, SETBACKS AND VALOROUS DEEDS OF OUR BCTs ARE RECORDED IN DR. CESAR POBRE’S HISTORY BOOK CITED ABOVE AND ALSO IN THE “OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE KOREAN WAR” BY THE ROK MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE. SO, WE ASK: WAS THE PHILIPPINES “BULLIED” BY THE WEST TO SEND OUR TROOPS IN CONFLICT-RIDDEN AREAS ABROAD??? NO WAY!!!, SAYS THIS KOREAN WAR VETERAN IN 1952, BECAUSE WE VOLUNTEERED AS FIGHTERS FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY. Please send any comments to [email protected]. Copies of articles are available at www.rpdev.org.