Malaysia confers highest military honors on Dellosa, 2 others

His Majesty Yang Di Pertuan Agong of Malaysia confers an honorary Panglima Angkatan Tentera or Malaysian Armed Forces Order for Valour (First Degree) to AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie D. Dellosa, during the awarding held September 24 on their 79th Anniversary. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/AFP Public Affairs Office

MANILA, Philippines—Bilateral relations between the Malaysian and Philippine Armed Forces were strengthened anew with the conferment of Malaysia’s highest military honors on three of the country’s top generals.

General Jessie Dellosa, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff, was given the Honorary Malaysian Armed Forces Order for Valour (First Degree), also known as Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera, awarded only to top Malaysian military officers.

Retired Commanding General of the Philippine Army General Arturo B Ortiz was also given the same award during the 79th Anniversary celebrations of the Malaysian Armed Forces on September 24 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Major General Francisco N. Cruz Jr., AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, was also awarded the Malaysian Armed Forces Order for Valour (Second Degree).

“We congratulate the Malaysian Armed Forces in its 79th Anniversary. We are optimistic that our efforts to further strengthen the ties between our two Armed Forces will result to more security cooperation activities and peace and development programs that will contribute to the general security in our region,” Dellosa said in a statement released Wednesday.

Malaysian Armed Forces General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin said in a letter to the awardees that “the relationship between our two Armed Forces has flourished from leaps to bounds and this, by no small measure, is due to your able leadership and strong commitment.”

Dellosa thanked his Malaysian counterpart and assured him that “the AFP’s continuous commitment in its bilateral relations with the Malaysian Armed Forces [is] geared towards healthy regional defense cooperation.”

Malaysia and the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation in 1994 with the aim of promoting defense and military cooperation.