First Filipino defense attache to Russia now in Moscow

The Philippine embassy in Moscow has welcomed the country's first ever defense attache to Russia, Ambassador Carlos Sorreta has announced.

Colenel Dennis Pastor and his administrative assistant Technical Sergeant Pablito Igne arrived on Thursday in Moscow.

"They reported for duty... and went straight to work," Sorreta said on his Facebook page.

Sorreta said this was "the first time in over 40 years of relations with Russia that the Philippines has assigned a defense attache."

"Colonel Pastor's assignment is another milestone in our relations with Russia," Sorreta said.

"He will play an important role in our continuing efforts to intensify defense, security and military cooperation between the Philippines and Russia," he added.

Filipino generals in September last year met with Russian military leaders to discuss defense and security cooperation, including the assignment of a defense attache in Moscow.

"DND-AFP’s decision to finally open a DAFA office in Moscow after forty-one years of Philippine-Russia ties is a milestone. It signifies the Philippines’ seriousness in pursuing defense and security cooperation with Russia,” Sorreta said then.

Sorreta said the defense attache as the official representative of the Secretary of National Defense and the Chief of Staff of the AFP would play a crucial role in the implementation of the Defense Cooperation Agreement signed with Russia in May 2017.

"The DAFA will also build on the work done by the Embassy in strengthening linkages with Russian military institutions and defense industry," Sorreta said.

“The Embassy warmly welcomes this decision and will certainly work closely with the incoming DAFA to ensure synergy in the Philippines’ relations with Russia in the politico-security and defense arenas," he added. —NB, GMA News