Press Release 85-2015

The Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu welcomed Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines (CSAFP), General Hernando DCA Iriberri AFP, who attended the Chief of Defense (CHOD) Conference 2015 hosted by the Commander, US Pacific Command,(USPACOM) Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr USN at the Hawaii Prince Hotel in Waikiki from 28-30 September 2015. Twenty-six ( 26) Chief of Defense Forces in the Asia-Pacific Region attended the Conference . The CHOD’s 2015 Theme is: “Addressing Shared Security Challenges and Ensuring Access to the Global Commons.”

AFP Chief of Staff General Hernando DCA Iriberri with USPACOM Commander, Admiral Harry Harris Jr.

Consul General Gina Jamoralin hosted a welcome dinner on September 29 at the official residence in honor of General Irriberi and the members of his official delegation. General Iriberri AFP was accompanied by the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, J5, BGen Guillermo A. Molina II AFP; Colonel Adonis Bajao PA(GSC), Secretary Joint Staff; Colonel Leonidas Hidalgo PA (GSC), Chief, International Affairs Division, OJ5; 1LT Maria Glaiza Roncal PA, Aide de Camp to CSAFP; Sergeant Major Romeo Austria PAF, and Mrs. Agnes Iriberri.

Presentations of distinguished speakers in the Plenary Sessions included: “Law as an Institution for Conflict & Cooperation; Counterterrorism Challenges & Opportunities in the Asia-Pacific; Cyber Security Panel: Strategy & Capacity; and Women, Peace & Security.”

The CHOD is the premier Asia-Pacific Security Forum for defense leaders in the region. Initiated in 1998 by USPACOM, the Chief of Defense (CHOD) Conference, serves as an annual regional avenue that gives top military leaders the opportunity to come together, interact closely and discuss cooperative matters relating to defense and security.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the USPACOM will co-host the CHOD Conference in 2016 in the Philippines. END.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hernando Irriberi handing over his token gift to Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin who hosted a welcome dinner in his honor at the official residence.