REQUEST FOR JIATF-WEST SUPPORT FOR DEA TRAINING

UNCLAS MANILA 001597 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/PMBS, INL/AAE FOR KAPOYOS AND ED FLOOD JIATF-WEST FOR DEA, ICE, AND FBI LIAISON DEA HQ FOR OFF/EDWARD KNOTH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SNAR KCRM MARR MASS PGOV RP SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR JIATF-WEST SUPPORT FOR DEA TRAINING ¶1. This is an action request. Please see paragraph 2. -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶2. (U) Action request -- DEA Manila Country Office, with support of the Mission's Law Enforcement Working Group, requests $5,000 in funding assistance from Joint Interagency Task Force-West (JIATF-W) to meet Philippine counter-drug training needs. This training cannot take place without JIATF-W assistance. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶3. (U) Philippine Congressman Roque Ablan, Chairman of the Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs, asked DEA Manila Country Office to conduct a three-day seminar for law enforcement officials in the Northern Luzon province of Ilocos Norte. JIATF-W assistance (estimated at $5,000) would allow one Raid/Tactics Instructor, one Hong Kong-based U.S. DEA Intelligence Analyst, one Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) instructor, one RP National intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Criminality Branch Officer, and the U.S. Embassy's Department of Justice Attache to conduct training that would enhance the capabilities of local law enforcement officers to combat drug trafficking operations in the area. -------------- DETAILS -------------- ¶4. (U) DEA Manila Country Office,s planned training seminars and activities would consist of the following program: Day 1: The target audience for training will be provincial law enforcement officials, including "barangay captains" (district officers) and local prosecutors. The presentations will consist of an open forum providing an overview of drug trafficking in Asia, with specific emphasis on the Philippines. An anticipated 50-100 students would attend Day 1 training. Tentative curriculum for Day 1 is: Overview of Drug Trafficking in Asia Philippine Drug Law DEA/PDEA/JIATF-W Joint Initiatives Drug Investigations and Prosecutions Day 2: Training will focus on the Philippine drug problem and provide local law enforcement officials with new ideas and concepts in drug investigations. The target audience for Day 2 will be law enforcement officials with daily duties in drug investigations. 40-50 students would attend Day 2 training. Tentative curriculum for Day 2 is: Overview of Clandestine Laboratories Evidence Collection and Exploitation Day 3: Training will focus on drug enforcement tactics to teach students new ways to execute drug search warrants, arrest warrants, and "buy bust" operations. Attendance will be limited to 30 students. Attendees must be law enforcement officers whose daily duties include the execution of search and arrest warrants. Tentative curriculum for Day 3 is: RAID and Tactics Training ¶5. (U) Post's point of contact for this request DEA Special Agent Rodel Babasa (phone: 011-632-523-1219, e-mail: rodel.b.babasa@usdoj.gov). Post's POC for law enforcement policy is Political Officer Dan Ricci (phone: 011-632-528-6300 x6305, e-mail riccidj@state.gov). Mussomeli