Ecarma is new commander of UNDOF

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo sent off former Presidential Security Command head and Marines Deputy Commander Major General Natalio Ecarma III to lead the 1,050-man United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) at the Golan Heights in Syria. He is set to leave the country Sunday.

Ecarma, who was met by Arroyo during the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee (SFMSCC) luncheon meeting in Malacanang, was chosen by the UN after the President nominated him to the UN Security Council.

He said he was surprised to learn of his selection since he had no Middle Eastern experience,

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He however believes that his long stint in Mindanao, which taught him to be tolerant of religious differences, religions and views, while helping people to help themselves in remote communities, might have been considered.

“My experience will be of help to me in my new role,” said Ecarma who as UNDOF commander would head 1,050 soldiers - 336 of them Filipino- with ranks ranging from sergeant to lieutenant colonel.

He replaces Major General Wolfgang Jilke of Austria who previously headed the UNDOF, which is composed of troops from Austria, Canada, Croatia, India, Japan, and the Philippines.

The UNDOF enforces a buffer between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights – a strategic region crucial to the defense of both countries. The armies of both countries bitterly fight over the Heights because of the military advantage it gives to whoever controls it.

Ecarma is a product of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1981 and comes from a family of soldiers which includes his grandfather, Colonel Natalio Ecarma who was a member of the Philippine Constabulary in 1923; his father, Air Force Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Ecarma who is a member of the PMA Class in 1954; his uncle, Brig. Gen. Renato Ecarma who belongs to PMA Class 1955.

He is presently Deputy Commandant of the Philippine Marine Corps and concurrently commander of Marine Forces Southern Philippines.

He helped in the training of the Marines’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, considered the cutting edge of the Philippine military’s special operations forces, and commanded the 3rd Marine Brigade in Mindanao and the Presidential Guards Battalion.

Ecarma finished courses given by the Philippine Army Scout Ranger, and the US Ranger. He has master’s degree in military studies from the US Marines School in Quantico, Virginia, and a masters in national security administration and a Ph.D. from Taiwan.

Ecarma is also an active proponent of martial arts, Pekiti Tirsia, developed by Muslim chieftains to disarm sword-wielding opponents. (JMR/Sunnex)