MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police is getting hands-on technical training, access to state-of-the-art sleuthing technology and modern know-how to solve crimes. Thanks to the European Union Philippines Justice Support Program (EPJUST).
On Monday, EU representatives visited the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame to further strengthen the EPJUST program in the country.
PNP Chief Director Raul Bacalzo welcomed the EU delegation, and expressed satisfaction with the EPJUST, saying it will help the country improve and enhance its criminal justice system. “This program involves the police, justice department, and courts and penal system,” Bacalzo explained to reporters during the EPJUST visit.
He added that EPJUST is a big help to the PNP in terms of acquiring training in the latest police investigation and prevention methods, and access to new equipment to combat crime.
“They help us in terms of training, equipment and investigation….we know that the solution of any case, whether it be extra-judicial in origin, or just a common crime, always starts with the investigation before prosecution, or trial, steps in,” Bacalzo said.
“I have attended one of the training modules,” Bacalzo revealed. “ I noticed, particularly in the provinces, that the technical aspects of an investigation are not thoroughly appreciated. We always rely on eyewitnesses, and if there’s none, the crime remains unsolved. With the EPJUST training, the investigator is taught how to preserve a crime scene, and piece together technical pieces of evidence such as fingerprints,” Bacalzo said.
In recognition of the overall output of the EPJUST, the European Union delegation to the Philippines visited Bacalzo on Monday, and apprised him of future developments for the program in the country.
The EU delegates were welcomed by other top PNP officials and personnel, and guests from the Department of Justice, as well as members of the EPJUST Expert Team.
“By putting in practice the new skills and competences acquired from EPJUST and by directing all your efforts to the investigation of crimes as instructed by your leadership, you will help the criminal justice system as a whole achieve further convictions of perpetrators of extra-legal killings and enforced disappearances,” said Ambassador Guy Ledoux, Head of the European Union delegation.
Since its launch in 2009, the EPJUST have been helping the country’s law enforcement agencies and courts to address issues on extra-legal killings, abductions, as well as human rights violations.