Manila, April 17 -- A ranking official of the Department of National Defense (DND) has emphasized the need for secure and real-time communication systems among institutions of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states, amid an increasingly complex information environment.

In a statement Thursday night, the DND said its Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Philippines ASEAN Defense Senior Officials' Meeting (ADSOM) Working Group, Marita Yoro, made this comment during the meeting for the 8th Ad Hoc Working Group (AHWG) on Direct Communications Infrastructure (ADI), which took place via virtual teleconferencing on April 15.

Incidentally, the Philippines and Brunei served as co-chairs on this working group. ...