06 July 2022 – The members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Command and General Staff Course (AFPCGSC) Class 70 paid a courtesy visit on H.E. Ma. Hellen De La Vega on 05 July 2022 in Canberra, Australia.

36 officers from Philippine Army (PA), Philippine Navy (PN) and Philippine Air Force (PAF), and 4 directing staff comprised the delegation. Major General Charlton Sean Gaerlan, PN, who heads the delegation, is the Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Education, Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC). The group is in Canberra for briefings at the Australian Defence College and meetings with Australian security government officials. Australia is one of the top defense partners of the Philippines and one of only two countries with whom the Philippines shares a status of forces agreement.

Ambassador De La Vega gave an overview on the nature of Philippines-Australia relations and comprehensive partnership and addressed questions raised by the members of the delegation. She was joined by Defence and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Romeo Bautista III and Assistant Defence and Armed Forces Attaché Col. Alexander Gigantone. ---END---