Ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday met with the delegates of the Australian Defense Force (ADF) to plan for this year’s Indo-Pacific Endeavor 2023 (IPE23) which is scheduled to run in various nations from June to October.
The Philippines is included in this year’s iteration of IPE23, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Jorry Baclor said in a statement.
“Vice Chief of Staff, AFP Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura met with the IPE23 commander, Air Commodore Anthony McCormack, at the AFP General Headquarters today, 17 March,” he added.
The ADF team for IPE23 is in the country to plan for the Philippine leg of the activity which is expected to be held in August. Primarily, IPE23 will focus on territorial defense and island maneuver operations.
In the meeting, Cordura conveyed the AFP’s support to IPE23 and its openness to more engagements with the ADF.
IPE23 is Australia’s flagship regional engagement activity with 14 Southeast Asian and Northeast Indian Ocean countries, including the Philippines.
It will also feature senior leadership engagements, information exchanges, sporting events, seminars, and other capacity-building activities.
Department of National Defense (DND) chief Carlito G. Galvez Jr. meanwhile reiterated that the security sector’s commitment to eliminating “peace spoilers” in society.
Galvez made the remark during the 11th oversight committee meeting of the National Task Force for the Disbandment of Private Armed Groups (NTF-DPAGS) on Wednesday.
“Senior Undersecretary Galvez reiterated that the issue of private armed groups in the country was brought to the fore with the recent spate of violence against local chief executives. He assured the public that the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), along with the PNP (Philippine National Police) and all member agencies of the NTF-DPAGs, remain committed to their mandate of eliminating peace spoilers to ensure that the people can live free of violence and fear thereof,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Friday.
Galvez said the security sector would act with utmost dedication to fulfill all tasks necessary to attain this goal and ensure the security of the Bangsamoro region, especially its 63 special geographic areas.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier directed the DND and the AFP to intensify their support and cooperation in the disbandment of private armed groups in the Bangsamoro region and other concerned areas across the country.
Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government chief and NTF-DPAGs chairperson Benjamin Abalos Jr. commended the task force for its swift response to reported lawlessness in areas in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Acting Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Isidro Purisima likewise expressed the agency’s steadfast commitment to helping create the conditions where a just and lasting peace could take root and flourish in the Bangsamoro.
“We will work tirelessly to ensure that the jointness and synergy of the efforts and the mutual trust developed between the government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are maintained and strengthened,” Purisima said.
