11 April 2016 – Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez paid a courtesy call to Minister of Defense of the Republic of Turkey Ismet Yilmaz on the eve of the occasion of Araw ng Kagitingan or National Heroes Day of the Philippines, April 07.

Ambassador Sanchez briefed the Minister on recent positive developments in the bilateral relations of the Philippines and Turkey particularly in the defense and military spheres. Minister Yılmaz said that the Turkish Government “regards the Philippines as the most important partner in the Asia-Pacific region.” He noted that bilateral relations have no problems and that it has potential to improve in all fields. 

The visit of then-Armed Forces of the Philippines Vice Chief of Staff John H. Bonafos in May 2015, at the invitation of the Vice Chief of the Turkish General Staff, helped prepare the way for a possible exchange of visits by the Defense Minister and his Philippine counterpart.

Ambassador Sanchez also discussed the possibility of opening an Office of Defense and Armed Forces Attaché at the Philippine Embassy in Ankara.  According to Minister Yilmaz, this would facilitate greater exchanges in military-to-military cooperation between the two countries. END