Singaporean military officer lauds tight RP security

A visiting Singaporean military officer praised the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday for implementing tighter security measures compared to neighboring countries in the region.

"We are learning many things here in the Philippines. Among these are the measures being implemented by the military against the communist insurgency, as well as in combating terrorism," said Lt. Col. Liow Boon Chuan Thomas of the Singaporean Armed Forces.

Thomas, who is among other foreign military officers taking up a course at the AFP’s General Staff College, said the security measures put up by the AFP have been effective in containing terrorism.

Thomas noted the security measures being implemented in the Philippines are comparatively more comprehensive than those in other countries.

Thomas was selected by the Singapore Armed Forces to undergo an eight-month long course, which is being taken by Filipino military officers, with ranks ranging from senior major to lieutenant colonel.

These officers, according to Army spokesman Ernesto Torres, would later on be assigned as battalion commanders in the field.

A total of 72 officers are at present taking up the General Staff Course here.

The other foreign military officers enrolled in the program are Majors Ayob Mohammed Feizol Anuar, Wan Rohizan and Ismail Mohd Yussof of Malaysia, and Lt. Commander Kim Ji Hoon of the Korean Navy. — James Mananghaya