CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), led by Chief of Staff General Romeo S Brawner Jr., welcomed General Datuk Haji Malek Razak Bin Sulaiman, Chief of Defence Force of the Malaysian Armed Forces, during the Turnover Ceremony of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) Chairship held on April 30, here.
The ceremony marked the formal transition of leadership as General Brawner presided the handover of the AOT symbol from Brigadier General Dato’ Pahlawan Asri Bin Shukor, outgoing Chief of AOT Malaysia, to Major General Oliver C Maquiling, incoming Chief of AOT Philippines. The transition underscores the continuing commitment of ASEAN member-states to uphold peace, stability, and cooperation in the region.
In his remarks, General Brawner emphasized the enduring role of the AOT in fostering mutual confidence among nations. “The value of the ASEAN Observer Team will not be measured by what is seen, but by what is sustained: by the stability it helps preserve, by the restraint it reinforces, and by the trust it builds among nations,” he said.
The AFP reaffirmed its commitment to advancing regional security cooperation as it assumes leadership of the AOT, further strengthening partnerships with ASEAN counterparts in pursuit of lasting peace and collective security.
Photos by SSg Ambay PA/PAOAFP
