Counter- terrorism training for PNP quartet
FOUR Filipino law enforcers will join their counterparts in South East Asia in an extensive training course on counterterrorism funded by the UK Government.
Delegates from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia and the Philippines are taking part in the 4th Regional Counter Terrorism Investigations Management Course at the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) in Indonesia this week..
“We are delighted that the PNP (Philippine National Police) is again participating in the regional counter-terrorism course in Jakarta supported by the British Government,” said British Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Trevor Lewis.
He added, “Many PNP officers have already benefited from this program and speak highly of the training on offer. The program helps build on our strong partnership with the Philippines in helping to build a peaceful and secure environment. The skills that the participants gain from this course will enhance their capability to protect the people they serve.”
The delegates are expected to develop their professional skills and to foster collaboration and cooperation between the police services of the different countries in the region. The course will be focused at a high strategic level to support the growth of counter terrorist policing in South East Asia, and will draw upon the expertise of British, Indonesian and other international law enforcement experts.
The first week of training will be based on briefings and case studies to heighten knowledge of skills associated with CT investigation and intelligence gathering techniques, importance of CT strategy and analysis.
The second week includes an exercise exposing participants to decision making, tasking and risk assessment associated with managing CT operations.
The final week will concentrate on looking at contemporary terrorism issues, including radicalization, terrorist financing, forensics as well as discussing and looking at initiatives used around the region in connection with de-radicalization.
David Gray, an officer from the Counter Terrorism Command at New Scotland Yard, will conduct the three-week training assisted by former London Metropolitan Police Commander Bob Milton.
“We will have several guest speakers during the course including Detective Superintendent Mark Morgan who is the Counter Terrorism Extremism Liaison officer based in Jakarta; the highly respected Sidney Jones from International Crisis Group, who is widely acknowledged as an expert in counter terrorism within the South East Asia Region; and Inspector General Tito Karnavian from the Indonesian National Police who was formerly the chief officer of Indonesia’s counter terrorism unit—detachment 88,” explained Gray.
The participants are already looking forward to gaining new insights from the training environment of shared experiences that the course will present.
“We believe that the JCLEC CT course will provide the PNP participants advanced and updated knowledge in counter-terrorism and de-radicalization efforts. We also see that our delegates’ interaction with various representatives from the law enforcement units of other countries will be beneficial to their organizations and ours as well. Such interactions can provide insights on the methods, procedures and best practices of Asian law enforcement units. We expect that the participants will be armed with new techniques and ideas on how to improve the PNP’S CT efforts in pursuit of its Integrated Transformation Program,” said Police Supt. Feloteo Gonzalgo, Deputy Chief of the PNP’S Foreign Liaison Division.
Added Police Supt. Marlon Sapla, Assistant Chief of the PNP’S Intelligence Operations Division: “This training is expected to help us in the formulation of more effective and responsive strategic, operational and tactical strategies in the fight against terrorism in the Philippines and in responsive strategic, operational and tactical strategies in the fight against terrorism in the Philippines and in the South East Asian region. It is also expected to enable us to have a closer working relationship with other CT practitioners in the region.”
The UK Government has been supporting the Regional Counter Terrorism Investigations Management Course since it started, and is funded through its Asean Program Fund.