AUSTRALIA HONOURS MEMBERS OF PHILIPPINE HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT MISSION TO EAST TIMOR
Australian Ambassador Rod Smith (left), accompanied by Defence Attaché, Group Captain Craig White (shown right), awards the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) medal to SSGT Dominador L Catindoy PN(M) during an awarding ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo on 9 October.
The INTERFET medal recognises the efforts of 132 military personnel who served in the Australian-led INTERFET as part of the Philippine Humanitarian Support Mission to East Timor (PhilHSMET).
INTERFET was established on 15 September 1999 by a United Nations (UN) Security Council resolution with a mandate to restore peace and security in East Timor, protect and support the UN Assistance Mission, and provide humanitarian assistance following.
A total of 537 Filipino officers and enlisted personnel served with the three PhilHSMET contingents between 24 September 1999 and 13 June 2000. They included doctors, nurses, dentists, construction engineers, explosive ordnance disposal personnel, agricultural specialists and mechanics.
Also present at the ceremony were the AFP Vice Chief of Staff LTGEN Reynaldo B. Mapagu, Camp Aguinaldo Commandant Brigadier General Remegio M. de Vera and PhilHSMET Chairman Colonel Alexis D. Tamondong PA (MNSA).
Additional awarding ceremonies are planned in the future and eligible personnel that have not been presented with their medal are requested to provide their details to the PhilHSMET Office on tel: 882-8422 or Colonel Alexis Tamondong at [email protected].