AFP chief gets top gallantry award from Malaysia

AFP chief Hernando Iriberri (3rd from right) receives the Honorary Award of the Malaysian Armed Forces Order of Valor last Monday at the Malaysian Ministry of Defense. It is awarded to outstanding high-ranking military officials in Malaysia and deserving foreign generals for their exemplary actions./AFP PHOTO

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Hernando Iriberri was bestowed with the Honorary Award of the Malaysian Armed Forces Order of Valor, First Commander, with four stars last Monday in a special ceremony at the Malaysian Ministry of Defense.

Defense Minister Honorable Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Bin Tun Hussien and Chief of Armed Forces General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Zulkifeli Bin Mohd Zin gave the award to Iriberri, the AFP said in a statement on Friday.

The award is highest in its category and is only handed to high-ranking officers of the Malaysian Armed Forces and to foreign generals and admirals for exemplary accomplishments rendered in advancement of their countries’ and Malaysia’s mutual interests.

Iriberri’s recognition was for his “transformational leadership as former Commanding General of the Philippine Army and as current Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, his inspiring improvement of the AFP soldier’s welfare and morale and ethical values, and solid contributions to the military relations between the AFP and the Malaysian Armed Forces,” the AFP said.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the award. This is not only for me. I proudly share this to all the gallant soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines of the AFP. But this is not really about me or my leadership, but more about the relations between our two Armed Forces. I am most privileged to be in a position to enhance the mil-to-mil relations between the AFP and the Malaysian Armed Forces and to help draw our forces together for common ends,” Iriberri was quoted as saying.

The AFP chief was in Malaysia this week for 2nd South and Southeast Asian Chiefs of Defence Dialogue, where he shared the lessons learned by the Philippines in recent humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, particularly from the AFP’s experience in addressing the impact of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name) in 2013. IDL