The Department of National Defense (DND) has expressed keen interest on learning about the digital spy unit of Singapore as it aims to beef up the cyberwarfare capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
This was among the things discussed by key defense officials with delegates from the Ministry of Defence of Singapore who visited Manila last July 19 to 20 for the 6th Philippines-Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue (DPD). DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Monday, July 31, that both parties acknowledged the “positive momentum” of bilateral defense relations between the Philippines and Singapore which was marked by the signing of defense arrangements over the past year. During the meeting, DND Asst. Secretary for Strategic Assessments and International Affairs Pablo M. Lorenzo “conveyed the interest of the Philippines to learn more about the recently established Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) of Singapore.” “[Lorenzo] hoped that the Philippines and Singapore could work towards the enhancement of their respective cybersecurity initiatives through subject matter expertise exchanges (SMEEs) and information sharing,” Andolong said. Singapore’s DIS is the digital service branch of its armed forces which is tasked to provide military intelligence and build up its digital defense capabilities. It was established in October 2022 as the Singaporean government addressed cyberattacks in their country. On the other hand, the Singaporean delegate led by Deputy Secretary (Policy) Brig. Gen. Kelvin Fan commended the AFP on its counter-terrorism operations, saying it “contributed to a conducive environment” for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). According to Andolong, Fan “expressed interest to learn the best practices and experience of the Philippines on counter-terrorism.” “In addition, both sides saw a positive trajectory on enhanced bilateral cooperation through the establishment of working groups of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Navy (PN) with their respective counterparts at the Singaporean Armed Forces (SAF),” Andolong noted. “Opportunities for education and training exchanges were also explored in support to the thrust of the Secretary of National Defense (SND) in improving the professionalization of the DND,” he added.
*Delegates from the Department of National Defense (DND) and Ministry of Defence of Singapore revitalize bilateral security ties between the two countries during the 6th Philippines-Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue (DPD) held in Manila from July 19 to 20, 2023. (Photo: DND)
*This was among the things discussed by key defense officials with delegates from the Ministry of Defence of Singapore who visited Manila last July 19 to 20 for the 6th Philippines-Singapore Defense Policy Dialogue (DPD). DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Monday, July 31, that both parties acknowledged the “positive momentum” of bilateral defense relations between the Philippines and Singapore which was marked by the signing of defense arrangements over the past year. During the meeting, DND Asst. Secretary for Strategic Assessments and International Affairs Pablo M. Lorenzo “conveyed the interest of the Philippines to learn more about the recently established Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) of Singapore.” “[Lorenzo] hoped that the Philippines and Singapore could work towards the enhancement of their respective cybersecurity initiatives through subject matter expertise exchanges (SMEEs) and information sharing,” Andolong said. Singapore’s DIS is the digital service branch of its armed forces which is tasked to provide military intelligence and build up its digital defense capabilities. It was established in October 2022 as the Singaporean government addressed cyberattacks in their country. On the other hand, the Singaporean delegate led by Deputy Secretary (Policy) Brig. Gen. Kelvin Fan commended the AFP on its counter-terrorism operations, saying it “contributed to a conducive environment” for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). According to Andolong, Fan “expressed interest to learn the best practices and experience of the Philippines on counter-terrorism.” “In addition, both sides saw a positive trajectory on enhanced bilateral cooperation through the establishment of working groups of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Navy (PN) with their respective counterparts at the Singaporean Armed Forces (SAF),” Andolong noted. “Opportunities for education and training exchanges were also explored in support to the thrust of the Secretary of National Defense (SND) in improving the professionalization of the DND,” he added.