
15/08/2025
AFPPKOC concludes training for UN Engagement Platoon
The Peacekeeping Operations School (PKOS) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Peacekeeping Operations Center has concluded the United Nations Engagement Platoon (UNEP) Training Class 01-2025 in a simple yet meaningful closing ceremony in the morning of August 14, 2025. Commodore Zosimo M. Bolaños Jr., the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel, J1 served as the Guest of Honor and Speaker.
The UNEP is a specialized capability in the UN peacekeeping missions tasked with building and maintaining meaningful relationships with local communities in mission areas. It serves as the bridge between peacekeepers and the population, ensuring that the mission remains connected, trusted, and responsive to the needs of the people it serves.
In UN operations, the Engagement Platoon plays critical functions such as community engagement, confidence-building, conflict prevention, information dissemination and coordination and support. The course was participated by AFP officers and enlisted personnel preparing for deployment to UN missions.
This historic training was conducted in partnership with the Indonesian National Defense Forces Peacekeeping Operations Center (Pusat Misi Pemeliharaan Perdamaian Tentara Nasional Indonesia), with Lt. Col. Cahyo Triyogo Widhi Nugroho who served as the foreign subject matter expert (SME).
The successful conduct of UNEP Training reflects the AFPPKOC's continuing commitment to developing mission-ready, culturally sensitive, and highly skilled peacekeepers. With the support of regional partners like Indonesia, the Philippines stands ready to contribute capable personnel to United Nations missions serving as bridges of trust, voices for peace, and champions of understanding in conflict-affected areas around the world.