CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) affirmed its commitment to ASEAN security cooperation during the 19th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting-19 (ACDFM-19) in the Ministry of Defense, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 16-18 March 2022.
The ACDFM is a meeting of Chiefs of Defense of ASEAN member countries that serves as a venue to strategically and comprehensively discuss and assess prominent issues of mutual interests related to common security challenges. It is also a venue for discussions on concerns raised during the ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM).
This year's meeting was hosted by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), with its Commander-in-Chief, General Vong Pisen, as the Chairman. The theme for this year is ‘Solidarity through harmonized security’ which aims to enhance military cooperation among ASEAN member states towards a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and harmonious South East Asian region.
General Andres C Centino, Chief of Staff, AFP, led the AFP delegation. He was accompanied by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, J5, Major General Jeffrey C Hechanova PAF, the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache to Cambodia, Colonel Shalimar R Imperial PA (MNSA), and the Chief, AFP International Military Affairs Center, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Allan I Gavilan PAF (GSC).
Before the ACDFM-19, preparatory activities were held in Phnom Penh from 14 to 16 March 2022. Then acting Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, J2 Major General Charlton Sean M Gaerlan PN (M), attended the 19th ASEAN Military Intelligence Meeting (AMIM-19). At the same time, Major General Alex S Rillera PA, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, J3, attended the 12th ASEAN Military Operations Meeting (AMOM-12).
On the sidelines of the ACDFM-19, the CSAFP also conducted bilateral meetings with the Head of Delegations of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Among the productive outcomes of the ACDFM-19 was the signing of the ACDFM-19 Joint Statement. It reflects the agreed statements that promote solidarity through harmonized security among all ASEAN member states.
Before the culmination of the ACDFM-19, General Vong Pisen of RCAF handed over the Chairmanship of the ACDFM to the Head of Delegation of Indonesia who will host the ACDFM-20 in Jakarta in 2023.///(Photos from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces)
