Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. met with Singapore’s Minister of Defense, Dr. Ng Eng Hen on the sidelines of the 17th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Jakarta.
Commending Singapore’s initiatives in developing intelligence capacities of regional states against terrorism and violent extremism, Secretary Teodoro expressed the Philippines’ readiness in leading the Counter-Terrorism Information Facility (CTIF) in 2024, as well as its continued participation at the Information Fusion Center (IFC). The two ministers recognized the nascent development of areas affected by terrorism.
Both Ministers also recognized the strong people-to-people relations between the Philippines and Singapore, as exhibited by the substantial number of Filipino professionals who contribute to Singapore’s workforce across different sectors. Relatedly, Minister Ng remarked about the huge economic potential of the Philippines as well as its unique and diverse geography, which would contribute more to ASEAN’s economic growth.
Both sides looked forward to future engagements, as Secretary Teodoro extended an invitation for Minister Ng to visit the Philippines in 2024.
