Bandar Seri Begawan – Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Christopher B. Montero attended the send-off ceremonies for Brunei’s peacekeeping contingent to the 16th International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao and to the Malaysian Batallion (MALBATT) 850-6 United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) held at the Bolkiah Garrison in Bandar Seri Begawan on 30 August 2018.

Ambassador Christopher B. Montero (seated 5^th from left), together with RBAF Commander Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud (center) with the 16^th IMT contingent to Mindanao and to the Malaysian Batallion (MALBATT) 850-6 United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

The ceremony was presided over by Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Commander Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud. Also present at the event were Police Force Commissioner Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad Irwan bin Haji Hambali, Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei H.E. Ismail bin Haji Salam, senior officials from the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) and RBAF, and family members of the servicemen.

During the ceremony, Major General Dato Aminan presented the IMT badges to the Mindanao contingent, composed of eight (8) personnel from the RBAF and one (1) officer from the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).

The 16^th-IMT Team left for Manila on 30 August 2019 and were welcomed upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Brunei’s Minister of Defense II, who was in Manila for an official visit.

Brunei Darussalam deployed its first peacekeeping mission to Mindanao in 2004 with the aim of providing substantial operational experiences for both RBAF and RBPF personnel, and sharing of best practices between the Philippines and Brunei. The Sultanate is committed to the continuing effort towards attaining peace and security in the region in pursuit of UN’s mandate. END