35 anti-graft investigators, prosecutors undergo anti-cybercrime training

MANILA, Philippines — The United States (US) Embassy in the Philippines has trained 35 anti-graft investigators and prosecutors on cyber investigations and digital evidence.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the US Embassy said the training, held in collaboration with the Office of the Ombudsman, was held from March 27 to 28.

The embassy noted that the training, which covered the Rule on Cybercrime Warrants, digital media privacy, and digital forensics tools, was implemented through the US Department of Justice (US DOJ) Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT).

Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen “delivered an in-depth briefing on privacy in digital media” during the workshop.

Meanwhile, the US DOJ’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) Cybercrime Laboratory Director and Senior Digital Investigative Analyst “led a hands-on session on digital forensic tools using CCIPS teaching laptops that US DOJ brought to the Philippines specifically for the training.”

The US embassy said the participants had firsthand experience on how “to preserve digital evidence, conduct basic digital analysis, and effectively present digital evidence in court.”

“The Ombudsman’s Office is a strong partner and is showing a forward-thinking mindset in its efforts to train its officials on digital forensics and constantly improve its investigative and prosecutorial skills,” US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Law said during the opening of the two-day workshop.

Meanwhile, Deputy Ombudsman for Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente said that “fighting corruption in the digital age demands new tools.”

“Corrupt public officials take advantage of new technologies and stringent privacy law to hide their illicit activities,” he said.

“The anti-cybercrime training provided by OPDAT has opened to Ombudsman investigators and prosecutors a digital toolbox for ensuring the successful detection, investigation, and prosecution of public corruption in the digital realm,” he added. /ee