PHL, Australia military chiefs renew commitment to regional peace

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City

– The military chiefs of the Philippines and Australia have renewed their commitment to upholding regional peace.

This developed following the phone call between Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff en. ndres C. Centino and Australian Chief of Defense Force Gen. Angus Campbell on March 13.

“The phone call meeting marked solid military coordination between the Philippines and Australia as partners in keeping the peace and stability in the outh acific region, public affairs o ce chief Col. orry aclor said in a statement Tuesday.

Centino and Campbell’s phone conversation came ahead of the announcement of the Australian government, in collaboration with the United States and the United Kingdom, of its transition to conventionally-armed and nuclear-powered submarines.

“General Campbell informed the C Chief-of- taff of this development and assured his counterpart of their continued coordination,” Baclor said.

Centino, meanwhile, thanked Campbell for the Australian government’s continued support and participation to the 38th edition of the Philippine-US Exercise “Balikatan” which opens on

April 11.

Joining the CSAFP in the call were Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, the eputy Chief of taff C for ersonnel, 1 a . en. effrey echanova, DCS for Plans, J5; Brig. Gen. Fernando

Reyeg, DCS for Operations, J3; Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Barandon, DCS for Intelligence, J2; Brig. Gen. Noel Beleran, DCS for Education, Training, and Doctrine, J8; Col. Leo Edward Caranto, Acting DCS for Logistics, J4; Lt. Col. Mark Allan Gavilan, Chief AFP International ilitary ffairs Center and ustralian Assistant Defence Attache Lt. Col. Tim Lopsik.

As this developed, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) formally accepted from the Australian government a close air support (CAS) part-task trainer (PTT), classroo and debriefing facility.

“Another milestone was unlocked after the , together with o cials fro the Australian Embassy, held a ceremony for the formal acceptance, turn-over, and blessing of the new PAF CAS PTT classroo and debriefing facility on arch 13, 2023. The ceremony was held at Col. Ernesto Ravina Air Base, Capas, Tarlac graced by the Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines, Her Excellency Hae Kyong Yu PSM as the guest-of-honor,” PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said.