James Kon
A ceremony was held at the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) yesterday to mark the safe return of the Brunei contingent of the 17th International Monitoring Team (17th IMT NBD), led by Lieutenant Colonel Mohd Fakaruddin Zuraidie bin Haji Ramli and the Independent Decommissioning Body Verification, Monitoring and Assistance Team 3/2021 (IDB VMAT 3/2021), led by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Shalleh bin Haji Ismail, in April following the completion of their tour of duty in Mindanao, the Philippines.
Joint Force Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Brigadier General (U) Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin was present as the guest of honour.
The Sultanate deployed five RBAF officers and one Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) officer as successors to the 18th IMT NBD in March as well as four RBAF officers to the 4th IDB VMAT in Mindanao.
A handover between the 17th IMT and 18th IMT delegations was held on April 18 at the Team Site 1 headquarters in Cotabato City, the Philippines while a handover was carried out between IDB VMAT 3/2021 and IDB VMAT 4/2022 on April 1 at the IDB headquarters, also situated in Cotabato City.
Meanwhile, a Doa Kesyukuran ceremony was also held at Surau Ad-Difa’, Bolkiah Garrison to commemorate the personnel’s return.
The religious event saw the recitation of Al-Quran, Dikir Marhaban, Asar prayer as well as a presentation of certificates by Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.
Commander of the RBAF Major General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, acting permanent secretary at the MinDef, deputy commissioner of the RBPF, foreign defence attachés; military and civilian officers and personnel of the MinDef and RBAF were also present.
