Presidential Office Cebu City, Sunday 24 August 2008 - Deputy Minister of Defence, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar made a four day official visit to the Philippines commencing 22 August to 25 August 2008. The Deputy Minister’s visit to the Philippines was upon the special inivitation of the Secretary of National Defence of the Philippines, The Honorable Gilberto Cojuangco Teodoro, Jr.

Today, the Deputy Minister called upon Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo where Her Excellency also conferred the “Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Grand Cross” at the Presidential Office in Malacanang Cebu, Central Philippines. 

Present at conferment rites were the Secretary of National Defence of the Philippines The Honorable Gilberto Cojuangco Teodoro, Jr, Brunei’s Permanent Secretary of Defence, Dato Paduka Haji Abd Majid bin Haji Mangarshah, Brunei Embassy Defence Attache, Lieutenant Colonel Pengiran Haji Maidin bin Pengiran Haji Said, and senior officers from the Department of National Defence of the Philippines.