PHILLIPINES, Wednesday 1 July 2015 – The Deputy Minister of Defence, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat conducted a four-day duty tour to Manila to have a closer look at the progress of the International Monitoring Team in Mindanao, the Republic of Philippines.
Accompanying the Deputy Minister of Defence were Dato Paduka Seri Bahrin bin Mohd Noor, Police Commissioner Royal Brunei Police Force, Brigadier General (U) Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, Joint Force Commander Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Officers from the Ministry of Defence, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).
During the visit, the Deputy Minister of Defence and delegation made a courtesy call to the Secretary of National Defence of the Republic of the Philippines, The Honourable Voltaire T. Gazmin, at the Department of National Defence, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo. Also present was Her Excellency Datin Paduka Malai Hajah Halimah Malai Haji Yussof, Brunei Darussalam Ambassador to the Republic of the Philippines. Most notably in the discussion was that both countries are satisfied with the strong relationships that had been fostered for a very long time.
Upon arrival in Cotabato City, the Deputy Minister of Defence and delegation met with the IMT Head of Mission, Major General Dato’ Sheikh Mohksin bin Sheikh Hassan, Malaysian Armed Forces at the IMT Headquarters. The delegation members were introduced to the IMT Staffs and were briefed on the latest situation update in Mindanao that included, the peace process and the Independent Decommissioning Body.
From the IMT Headquarters, the delegation then proceeded to visit the Grand Mosque where they were welcomed by Former Congressman Didagen Dilangalen. The delegation was given a short brief and tour of the mosque.
The delegation then met with the Brunei Contingent at the Team Site 1, the RBAF Area of Responsibility. The delegation heard a situational update brief by the Brunei Head of Contingent, Lieutenant Colonel Haji Mohd Huzaimi bin Pehin Harimaupadang Major General (Retd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Husin, RBAF. The Brunei Contingent IMT-11 comprises eight RBAF and one RBPF personnel, deployed in the tour of duty in Cotabato City since September 2014.
The Deputy Minister of Defence and delegation had the opportunity to have Iftar, performed Terawikh prayers and sahur with the Brunei Contingent.
Courtesy Call to Secretary of National Defence of the Philippines,
The Honourable Voltaire T.Gazmin
Courtesy Call to IMT Head of Mission, Major General Dato’ Sheikh Mokhsin
bin Sheikh Hassan
Visit to Grand Mosque
Visit to IMT Team Site 1
TIMBALAN MENTERI PERTAHANAN MENINJAU KEBAJIKAN ANGGOTA IMT DI REPUBLIK FILIPINA
FILIPINA, Rabu 1 Julai 2015 – Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat telah berkunjung ke Manila selama empat hari untuk meninjau dengan lebih dekat perkembangan terkini Pasukan Pemantauan Antarabangsa di Mindanao, Republik Filipina.
Mengiringi Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan ialah Dato Paduka Seri Bahrin bin Mohd Noor, Pesuruhjaya Polis Pasukan Polis Diraja Brunei, Brigadier Jeneral (U) Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, Pemerintah Markas Angkatan Bersama ABDB, Pegawai-Pegawai Kanan dari Kementerian Pertahanan, Angkatna Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) dan Pasukan Polis Diraja Brunei (PDB).
Semasa lawatan, Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan dan delegasi membuat kunjungan hormat kepada Setiausaha Pertahanan Republik Filipina, Yang Berhormat Voltaire T. Gazmin, di Jabatan Pertahanan Nasional, Kem Jeneral Emilio Aguinaldo. Turut hadir ialah Puan Yang Terutama Datin Paduka Hajah Halimah Malai Malai Haji Yussof, Duta Besar Negara Brunei Darussalam ke Republik Filipina. Tumpuan utama dalam perbincangan itu ialah bahawa kedua-dua negara berpuas hati dengan hubungan yang kuat yang telah terjalin untuk masa yang lama.
Apabila tiba di Bandaraya Cotabato, Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan dan delegasi bertemu dengan Ketua Misi IMT, Mejar Jeneral Dato ‘Sheikh Mohksin bin Sheikh Hassan, Angkatan Tentera Malaysia di Ibu Pejabat IMT. Ahli-ahli delegasi telah diperkenalkan kepada anggota-anggota IMT dan diberi taklimat mengenai keadaan terkini di Mindanao yang termasuk, proses damai dan Independent Decomissioning Body.
Dari Ibu Pejabat IMT, delegasi kemudiannya melawat ‘Grand Mosque’ di mana ketibaan mereka dialu-alukan oleh Bekas Ahli Kongres, Didagen Dilangalen. Delegasi telah diberi taklimat ringkas dan melawat ke masjid.
Delegasi itu kemudiannya berjumpa dengan Kontinjen Brunei di Tapak Team 1, Kawasan Tanggungjawab ABDB. Delegasi itu mendengar taklimat terkini mengenai kadaan di sana yang disampaikan oleh Ketua Kontinjen Brunei, Leftenan Kolonel Haji Mohd Huzaimi bin Pehin Harimaupadang Mejar Jeneral (B) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Husin, ABDB.
Kontinjen Brunei IMT-11 terdiri daripada lapan anggota ABDB dan seorang anggota PDB, yang mula ditugaskan di Cotabato City sejak September 2014. Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan dan delegasi juga berpeluang menghadiri majlis Iftar, menunaikan solat terawih dan bersahur bersama anggota kontinjen Brunei.