The Department of National Defense (DND) hosted the 9th Joint Defense Working Committee (JDWC) Meeting between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam last week.
The Delegation from the Ministry of Defense of Brunei Darussalam was headed by Permanent Secretary Brigadier General (Retired) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin.
Secretary Alirupendi previously served as the Defense Attaché of Brunei Darussalam to the Philippines from 2010-2013.
DND Undersecretary for Capability Assessment and Development Angelito M. De Leon regarded the meeting as an opportune occasion to give added impetus to the implementation of the 2001 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Defense Cooperation between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam.
“Undersecretary De Leon further commended Brunei Darussalam’s significant contributions to the realization of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through the International Monitoring Team (IMT), and the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB),” DND Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said.
De Leon urged Brunei Darussalam to assist BARMM’s local economy and industries, such as through Islamic banking and investments, as well as enhance Islamic education in Madrasahs to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies, especially in the upcoming parliamentary elections in 2025.
“As both countries commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year, the two officials highlighted the sustained conduct of high-level visits, particularly with the recent state visit to Brunei Darussalam of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in May 2024, education and military training exchanges, and intelligence sharing,” Andolong added.
On multilateral cooperation, Undersecretary De Leon congratulated Brunei Darussalam’s co-chairship with Australia of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Experts’ Working Group (EWG) on Military Medicine for the 2021-2024 cycle.
This EWG identified the Philippines for its Project-based Community Medical Deployment (PCMD)/Medical Aid Provision (MAP) initiative, which provided much-needed healthcare provisions to underprivileged communities in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.
The meeting concluded with both officials committing to sustain the gains of defense relations as close ASEAN neighbors and security partners in upholding international law and regional peace and security.
During the three-day visit, Permanent Secretary Alirupendi rendered a courtesy call on Senior Undersecretary Isidro L. Purisima, Deputy Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity on June 18, 2024, when both sides discussed the progress of the Mindanao peace process and actual areas of cooperation to ensure lasting peace and development in BARMM.
The reconvening of the JDWC Meeting stalled due to several factors since its last iteration in 2016.
