PH Embassy in Poland Facilitates Historic Visit of PH Defense Secretary 

From left to right: Col. Justino T. Ramolete, Commo. Ruben B. Fajardo Jr., Col. Bogdan Pidanty, Ambassador Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz, Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Deputy Minister-Secretary of State Marcin Ociepa, Mr. Piotr Pacholski, Mr. Sebastian Chwałek, Mr. Sławomir Cichocki, Col. Zbigniew Kołaczek, Assistant Secretary Antonio L. Bautista, Lt. Gen. Allen Trio Paredes. (Photo courtesy of DND)

WARSAW, 25 November 2021 – The Philippine Embassy in Poland facilitated the historic visit  of  Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana on 06 to 13 November 2021. The visit of Secretary Lorenzana was upon the invitation of Polish Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak.

Secretary Lorenzana’s visit to Poland is the first by a Philippine Secretary of Defense, and follows the first visit to the Philippines by Poland’s Minister of National Defence Radosław Sikorski back in 2006.

During the bilateral meeting held at the Ministry of National Defence between Secretary Lorenzana and Deputy Minister-Secretary of State Marcin Ociepa, both sides expressed satisfaction at the deepening of Philippines-Poland relations, including in the critical area of defense cooperation, particularly on logistical requirements of the armed forces, armament and military equipment, defense industry and technology. 

Secretary Lorenzana noted that the acquisition of 16 Black Hawk S-70i helicopters by the Philippines from Poland has been successfully completed at the end of October 2021, and he expressed the hope that this mutually beneficial cooperation would continue.

After the bilateral meeting, Secretary Lorenzana proceeded to Marshal Józef Piłsudski Square for the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Secretary Lorenzana capped his official visit with an invitation extended to him by His Excellency President Andrzej Duda to witness the National Independence Day Celebration at the Piłsudski Square on November 11, after which he also had a brief meeting with his host, Minister Błaszczak.END

Secretary Lorenzana heads the Philippine delegation during the Bilateral Meeting held at the Ministry of National Defence. Deputy Minister-Secretary of State Marcin Ociepa leads the Polish delegation. (Photo courtesy of DND)

For more information, visit https://www.warsawpe.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.facebook.com/PHLinPoland/ or https://www.twitter.com/PHLINPL.