Manila, June 7 (AseanAll) — Philippine Secretary of National Defense (SND) Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. welcomed Lt. Col. Suzana Binti Haji Antin, the new Defense Attaché of Brunei Darussalam to the Philippines, during the latter’s introductory call at the Department of National Defense (DND) of the Philippines on June 5, 2024.
Following the state visit of Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., Teodoro recalled the crucial role of Brunei Darussalam towards the attainment of lasting peace and prosperity in Mindanao.
In line with the efforts to maintain stability and spur development over the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Teodoro enjoined Brunei Darussalam to provide education opportunities for Imams in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, who are developing their individual capacities on the correct interpretation of the Holy Qu’ran, counter-radicalization, and violent extremism in the country.
Teodoro expressed his view that such an undertaking would be one of the ways that Brunei Darussalam will cement itself “as an exporter of religious scholarship on the basis of non-violence, peace and stability,” as espoused under the concept of “Darussalam.”
Noting the background of Lt. Col. Suzana as a logistician, Teodoro shared the DND’s current implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), which outlines the country’s strategic shift to external defense. The Defense Secretary saw the opportunity to establish linkages between the cyber defense institutions and defense industries of the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam, and collaborate in strengthening interoperability and overall capabilities of the militaries of the two countries.
As founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), both countries are committed to work towards the promotion of regional peace and security, and peaceful resolution of differences in the spirit of ASEAN Centrality. The Philippines and Brunei Darussalam also commemorated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
