BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 23 July 2020. Philippine Ambassador Christopher B. Montero served as a Guest Lecturer on the topic “Philippine Foreign Policy in the Regional and Bilateral Context” at the Tenth Command and Staff Course of the Defence Academy of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) on 17 July 2020.

The lecture is part of the module on Asia Strategic Environment Studies of the course, which introduces participants on the complexity of the region’s strategic environment and the integration of the key themes and trends that influence the stability, security and prosperity to the region as a whole.

In the two-hour lecture, Ambassador Montero outlined the guiding principles and elements of the three pillars Philippine foreign policy and how these are applied, in the regional context (ASEAN) and bilateral context (PH-Brunei relations).

The Ambassador likewise shared the measures being undertaken by the Philippine Government to address the adverse effects of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, including the critical role of Filipino diplomats in assisting the Filipino diaspora at the present time. A copy of the presentation slides are enclosed for reference.    

On the other hand, Defence Attaché Jose Ricky A. Laniog PA (MNSA) delivered a short presentation on PH-Brunei defense relations, particularly Brunei’s active and valuable participation in International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the International Decommissioning Body (IDB) in the peace process in Mindanao. He also gave a presentation on the lessons learned by the Philippine Government from the Marawi Incident in 2017.

The 10th Command and Staff Course has a total of 37 participants from the Ministry of Defence, Royal Brunei Armed Forces and Royal Brunei Police Force, as well as international students from various countries with ranks from Major to Lieutenant Colonel. The course includes one Philippine participant, Lt. Colonel Frederick Pacia from the Philippine Airforce (PAF). END