15 October 2004 – Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Special Concerns Rafael E. Seguis today confirmed the arrival on Wednesday, 20 October 2004, of the ten-man delegation from Brunei Darussalam for the International Monitoring Team at the Villamor Air Base. “They are expected to arrive via a Royal Brunei military aircraft from Bandar Seri Begawan and will be received by the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, Secretary Quintos-Deles, and other government and military officials,” according to the Undersecretary Seguis who will represent the Secretary of Foreign Affairs in the welcoming ceremony.

The delegation will be headed by Lt. Col. Haji Aminuddin Ishan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, (or Lt. Col. Aminuddin), Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Brunei Land Forces,  Undersecretary Seguis said. The contingent will be given a welcome reception at the VIP Lounge Base Operations, which is the same venue where the Malaysian contingent was received last 9 October 2004.     IMT head Major General Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin of Malaysia will be on hand to welcome the Brunei contingent.

“This is another historic moment in the Philippine peace process and also the first time for Brunei to send a contingent to Mindanao as their active contribution in the Philippines’ quest for peace,” Undersecretary Seguis stressed.  Brunei has consistently supported the peace initiatives of the Philippine Government in the search for a lasting peace in Mindanao. END