Phnom Penh, 28 July 2024 – Philippine-Cambodian defense ties were given a boost on by the visit of the Commanding General of the Philippine Army, Lieutenant General Roy M. Galido, for bilateral talks on 26 July 2024 with his counterpart General Mao Sophan of the Royal Cambodian Army.

Accompanied by Philippine Ambassador Flerida Ann Camille P. Mayo and assisted by Defense and Armed Forces Attaché Captain Leo C. Dimoc (PN) during the bilateral meeting, the Philippine Army delegation led Lt. Gen. Galido reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the strengthening of defense cooperation and interoperability with Cambodia.  The Army Chiefs discussed ways to sustain healthy levels of engagements though the exchange of visits, participation in regional conferences, joint exercises and trainings in counter terrorism, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR), and peacekeeping operations, among other activities.

Both countries’ commitment to strengthen defense cooperation was further demonstrated by the Combat Tracking Course and Infantry Operations in Urban Terrain training conducted by the Philippine Army on 1-26 June 2024 at Kampong Speu where Ambassador Mayo and Lt. General Galido delivered remarks at the closing ceremonies on 26 June 2024. 

On 29 July 2024, Lt. Gen. Galido and his delegation were received in a courtesy call on the Cambodian Prime Minister, His Excellency Hun Manet.   Prime Minister Hun Manet, who once served as the Royal Cambodian Army’s Commander, articulated his country’s interest in capacity building, resource and experience sharing and unit-to-unit engagements in the areas of non-traditional threats, cybersecurity and HADR. 

Ambassador Mayo lauded the active engagements between the Philippines and Cambodia in the defense and security sector, citing the enduring spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries. “Our combined efforts on the diplomatic and defense fronts are well-placed investments in our peoples’ shared future and prosperity that thrives on a rules-based order,” she remarked. END