15 September 2005 – Ambassador Virginia H. Benavidez of the Philippine Embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, conveyed the appreciation and gratitude of the Philippine Government for Brunei’s “vital contributions to and continuing support” for the peace talks between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) through the country’s participation in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) as the Brunei  Government reiterated its “serious commitment in helping the Philippines attain peace and progress in the South.”
 
At a reception held on 9 September 2005 at the Ambassador’s residence in honor of the second Brunei contingent to the IMT, Ambassador Benavidez said “the sending of the second batch of peace monitors would further boost Philippines-Brunei cooperation in the military, defense and security fields, and concretely manifests the exemplary commitment and cooperation of His Majesty’s Government to contribute to greater peace and more secure future for the various stakeholders in Mindanao.”

Ambassador Benavidez reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the ten-man team headed by Lt. Col. Haji Jol Jublee bin Haji Bangkol will leave for Cotabato City today, 15 September 2005, to replace the first Brunei contingent that has already completed their tour of duty as part of the IMT monitoring peace efforts in Southern Philippines.  The Ambassador added that the Embassy had earlier briefed the contingent on the general situation in Mindanao – including the developments in the GRP-MILF peace process – and arranged for the contingent members to have an introductory course on the Filipino language.

The team was accompanied at the Embassy reception by Brunei Deputy Minister of Defense Pehin Col. (Rtd.) Dato Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar and Royal Brunei Air Force Commander Col. Dato Haji Mahmud bin Haji Saidin.

Col. Mahmud, on behalf of the Deputy Minister and the members of the contingent, conveyed to Ambassador Benavidez the Brunei Government’s “serious commitment in helping the Philippines attain peace and progress in the South.”

Ambassador Benavidez said that aside from the outgoing Brunei contingent to the IMT, the reception also honored the Commanding General of the Philippine Army Major General Hermogenes Esperon and members of his delegation.  They were in Brunei to attend the closing ceremonies of the recently concluded ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet.  END