The Department of National Defense (DND) on Thursday announced that its bureaus received a delegation from the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Cybersecurity and Information Centre of Excellence (ACICE) in a series of meetings held on 24 February 2026 at Camp Aguinaldo to advance regional cooperation on cybersecurity and information resilience.
The delegation was led by Brig. Gen. Ng Pak Shun of Singapore’s Ministry of Defence and Ms. Yeo Seow Peng, executive director of ACICE. The visit forms part of preparations for the 5th ACICE Advisory Board Meeting scheduled in April 2026, which the Philippines will host as Chair of ASEAN 2026.
ACICE delegates met with DND Assistant Secretary for Defense Technology Research and Industry Development Augusto V. Gaite to discuss ongoing efforts by the Philippines and Singapore to strengthen their respective cybersecurity capabilities. Both sides acknowledged the rapid evolution of information technologies and the value of bilateral, multilateral and private sector cooperation.
The delegation also engaged with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Civil-Military Operations Command chief Lt. Gen. Arvin R. Lagamon to explore enhanced collaboration, information-sharing and capacity-building initiatives to counter cyber and information threats.
In a separate meeting, AFP Cyber Command chief Brig. Gen. Joey Fontiveros briefed the delegates on programs aimed at training cyber personnel, strengthening cybersecurity resilience and adopting advanced technologies within the defense organization.
Discussions were likewise held with the DND Assistant Secretary for Defense Communications on enhancing cognitive resilience and equipping ASEAN defense institutions with policy and operational tools to address emerging challenges in the information landscape.
The delegation also met with National Defense College of the Philippines President Christine June P. Cariño to discuss research initiatives under the college’s agenda, including planned cybersecurity conferences and academic programs supporting strategic-level policy development in the cyber domain.
The engagement reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to practical cooperation in cyber policy and operations and underscored the Philippines’ continued support for ASEAN-led mechanisms promoting a secure, stable and resilient regional cyber environment.