09 September 2014 - Brunei Darussalam deployed the 11th batch of peace monitors to the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao in support of the on-going peace process between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). The contingent is composed of seven military personnel and one police officer.
Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Nestor Z. Ochoa, together with the Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Colonel Carlos B. Cepe PAF (GSC), attended the send-off ceremony on September 5 at Rimba Air Base, Gadong.
The ceremony was graced by the Deputy Minister of Defense, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, as the Guest of Honor who attached the IMT armbands to each of the contingent members. The event was also attended by the Commander, Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, Police Commissioner Dato Paduka Seri Awang Bahrin bin Mohd Noor, members of the Defence Executive Committee, Service Commanders and Commandants, Directors and other senior officers of MINDEF, Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Royal Brunei Police Force, as well as families of the departing personnel.
The contingent is led by Lt. Col. Haji Huzaimi bin Pehin Datu Harimau Padang Major General (Ret) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Husin, and composed of the following: Major (U) Pg Muhd Mujib bin Pg Haji Umar Ariffin, Major Mohd Azmi bin Mohd Taib, Captain Mohd Asmafahmi Hazmin bin Haji Mohd Sultan, Captain Abdul Aziz bin Haji Razali, ASP Haji Mohd Termizi bin Dr Haji Mohd Yusop, WO2 Saiful Bahri bin Haji Latif and WO2 Pg Hashim bin Pg Abdul Rahman.
Dato Mustappa stated that Brunei remains committed to the peacekeeping process through the IMT framework, adding that the Sultanate is ready to deepen its involvement following the invitation to be part of the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) to help in the disarming of MILF units.
“On the whole, we have indicated positively our readiness to support the framework agreement and the peace process,” he commented.
Since the deployment of the first contingent in Mindanao on 10 October 2004, a total of 124 military and police personnel from Brunei Darussalam have served in the IMT. END