Philippines, Thai defense officials link up vs terrorism

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine and Thai defense officials have vowed to continue helping each other in addressing security and other concerns in Southeast Asia through cooperation and coordination between the two neighboring countries. 

During the signing of the Terms of Reference (TOR) on the Joint Committee on Military Cooperation (JCMC) at the Department of National Defense (DND) at Camp Aguinaldo on Friday, delegates from both countries discussed current and emerging security issues such as violent extremism and terrorism, maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. 

The DND said both the Philippines and Thailand expressed mutual support for each other’s advocacies and initiatives within the ambit of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting and the ADMM-Plus.  

With Thailand’s assurance of continued support to the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ADMM this year, the Manila delegation thanked its counterpart for tangible contributions to the ASEAN defense sector, including the establishment of an ASEAN Center for Military Medicine.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines and Thailand have always been natural partners bilaterally and through ASEAN-related engagements, describing the TOR on the JCMC as another milestone. 

Undersecretary of National Defense Cardozo Luna and Thai Permanent Secretary for Defense General Chaichan Changmongkol signed the TOR with Secretary Lorenzana and Thailand Ambassador to the Philippines Thanatip Upatising witnessing the event.