CAMP NAVARRO, Calarian, Zamboanga City: The Royal Malaysian Armed Forces (RMAF) has vowed to extend full support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFPs) peace and order campaigns in Mindanao.

Col. Alaric Avelino delos Santos, spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), on Friday said Maj. Gen. Datuk Hamdan Bin Hj. Ismail of the RMAF visited the WestMinCom last Wednesday.

Hamdan is the head of mission of the Malaysian International Monitoring Team M-16 (MIMTM-16).

The MIMTM-16 was tasked to oversee the peace process concluded between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that led to the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Hamdan was welcomed with company-sized military honors rendered by WestMinCom personnel.

He was welcomed by Brig. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete and Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas, together with Joint Task Force Basilan commander Brig. Gen. Domingo Gobway and the command staff at the Laong Laan Hall.

Hamdan told the AFP officials that the International Monitoring Team supports the AFP in the implementation of the peace campaigns.

"We are deeply honored to be visited by the head of one of our reliable partners who genuinely support us in the accomplishment of our mission," Nafarrete said.

The WestMinCom commander, Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., through Nafarrete extended his gratitude to the Malaysian general and wished him well during his stay in Mindanao.

Hamdan joined the RMAF on March 1, 1985.

He has served the organization for 35 years and was promoted to the rank of major general on March 4, 2020.

The Mindanao International Monitoring Team Batch 16 was inaugurated last March 24, 2021, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and was subsequently deployed to the Philippines in the same month.

The team comprised five officers of the Malaysian Army; three officers of the Royal Malaysian Navy; three officers of the Royal Malaysian Air Force; two officers of the Royal Malaysian Police; and three administrative and diplomatic Officers of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister's Department.