Malaysian Defense Minister calls on President Aquino

Malaysian Defense Minister Dato Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein made a courtesy call on President Benigno S. Aquino III in Malacañang Palace on Wednesday.

Minister Hishammuddin was accompanied by Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato' Mohd Zamri bin Mohd Kassim, Deputy Secretary General for Policy Suriani binti Ahmad, Director General for Intelligence Lt. Gen. Datuk Abdul Hadi bin Hj Hussin, and Malaysian Army Field Commander Lt. Gen. Dato' Sri Zulkiple bin Hj Kassim.

Present on the Philippines’ side were Department of National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, National Security Council Secretary Cesar Garcia, Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lacanlale Linglingay, and Department of National Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino.

Minister Hishammuddin arrived on Tuesday on board Malaysian Airlines 802. He was welcomed at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by Ambassador Mohd Zamri and Defense Attaché to the Philippines Col. Hamzah Ali.

After his courtesy call on President Aquino, the Malaysian defense minister flew to Cotabato City to meet with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels, as well as the Malaysian contingent of the International Monitoring Team.

The Malaysian defense minister and his delegation, which also included Special Officer to the Minister Faris Hussein Dato' Seri Hishammudin, Military Advisor Col. Arman Rumaizi bin Hj Ahmad, Policy and Strategic Planning Division Director Sahipulhijaiman bin Sulaiman, Private Secretary to the Minister Idamoerni Zakaria, Special Officer Nur Diyanah binti Abdul Rahiman, Special Officer to the Minister Yaqin bin Mohamad Khan, Political Secretary Onn Hafiz bin Datuk Ghazi, Personal Security Officer to the Minister SM Azhari bin Md Supian and Minister of Defense staff Cpl. Abdul Nazir bin Assan returned to Malaysia on Wednesday (March 11). (PCOO News Release)