Philippine Air Force General visits Brunei
By Azlan Othman

Lt Gen Santillan inspecting the Royal Brunei Air Force guard of honour
Photo: Hj Minor Absah 

Lt. General Nestor Reyes Santillan, Commanding General of the Philippine Air Force and his delegation arrived in Brunei yesterday morning for a two-day official visit. This visit is an introductory visit by him since being officially appointed to the post on 12 September 2002.

The visit by Lt. General Santillan is to develop better understanding and foster cordial bilateral defence relationships between the two air forces through the practice of common aviation procedures and traditions.

In the afternoon, Lt. General Santillan visited the Royal Brunei Air Forces headquarters at the Rimba Air Force Base and inspected the guard of honour mounted by personnel of the air force before paying a courtesy call on Colonel (U) Hj Mahmud bin Hj Saidin, Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force.

Following the visit at RBAF headquarters, Lt. General Santillan paid a courtesy call on Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major-General (Rt) Pg Hj Ibnu Ba'asith, Deputy Minister of Defence at the Bolkiah Garrison accompanied by Commander of Royal Brunei Air Force.

Later, Lt. General Santillan also paid a courtesy call on the Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces accompanied by Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force. After the courtesy call at Bolkiah Garrison, Lt. Gen. Santillan was given the honour of planting a tree to commemorate his first visit to the Royal Brunei Air Force headquarters.

Today, Lt. Gen Santillan will also have the opportunity to visit to some interesting places in Brunei such as the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre (OGDC), Royal Regalia and a tour around Yayasan. Lt. Gen Santillan and his delegation are expected to depart Brunei for Manila on Friday evening.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin