AKP Phnom Penh, February 14, 2026 --  The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines visited a displacement camp in northwestern Cambodia on Friday, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian challenges and stalled repatriation efforts following recent border tensions with Thailand.

H.E. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr. arrived at the Wat Kandol camp in Thmar Puok district, Banteay Meanchey province, at approximately 2:55 p.m. He was accompanied by Cambodia’s Coordination Liaison Group (CLG) and the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT). The camp currently shelters 1,520 families, totaling 5,735 individuals, who remain displaced due to previous border instability.

H.E. Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, spokeswoman for the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence, confirmed the visit, which aims to assess the living conditions of those unable to return to their homes.

The visit comes amid growing concern over the slow implementation of the Joint Statement of the 3rd Special Meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) held on Dec. 27, 2025.

Under the fourth point of that agreement, both nations pledged to allow civilians to return to their homes "as soon as possible, without hindrance, and with safety and dignity." However, Cambodian authorities reported that as of Friday morning, 78,393 people – including 26,385 children – remain displaced and unable to return to their villages.

The Cambodian Ministry of National Defence issued a statement alongside the visit, urging Thai authorities to strictly adhere to the spirit of the Dec. 27 Joint Statement and the Oct. 26, 2025, Peace Agreement.

"The Ministry calls on the Thai side to respect these agreements with goodwill and sincerity," the statement read, emphasising the need for a "peaceful, just, and lasting solution" in accordance with international law and existing bilateral treaties.

By K. Rithy Reak