Philippines Embassy in UAE opens first Philippine Defense Attache Office in GCC

(Left photo) H.E. Ambassador Hjayceelyn M. Quintana (left) cuts the ribbon at the inauguration of the Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attache (OPHILDAFA) at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi on 21 February 2021, with Defense Attaché Col. Cesar Fernandez (right). | (Right photo) Col. Fernandez (first from left) discusses with Amb. Quintana (first from right) the plans and priorities of Philippine Department of National Defense, while the Amb. advises him on strategies on how to implement these, as Embassy officers listen on how they can contribute.

The Philippine Embassy in the UAE has officially established GCC’s first Office of the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché (OPHILDAFA), housed in the capital of the country in Abu Dhabi.

Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Amb. Hjayceelyn M. Quintana led the inaugural rites for the opening of the new office, which coincides with the ongoing International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 2021) and the Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX 2021) in Abu Dhabi in the year of the country’s golden jubilee.

Amb. Quintana states that this move is a testament to President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy and proves that the Philippines sees the UAE as a key partner in promoting peace.

“The Philippines recognizes the UAE as an important partner in the region, playing a strategic role in maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East. The OPHILDAFA in the UAE provides a new channel of communication that further manifests President Duterte’s independent foreign policy and adds a new milestone to the 46-year old diplomatic relationship between the Philippines and UAE,” said Amb. Quintana.

The establishment of the OPHILDAFA in the UAE was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte on February 19, 2019 and accepted by UAE on August 2 of the same year. The following year, in August 2020, the Embassy met and established linkages with the EDGE Group, UAE’s defence conglomerate.

Defence Attache Col. Cesar Fernandez assumed his post on December 24, 2020. The OPHILDAFA in Abu Dhabi is the first in GCC and second in the Middle East, with the first office located in Israel.

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana stated that the establishment of the OPHILDAFA marks an opportunity for the Philippines and the UAE to form stronger strategic ties in the field of defence.

“The establishment of the OPHILDAFA today provides a greater opportunity for the Philippines and the UAE to accomplish more in the areas of defence and military cooperation. The UAE is a regional hub for the global defence industry, therefore there is much opportunity for a closer partnership between the Philippines and the UAE,” said Sec. Lorenzana.