FORWARD DEPLOYING THE FBI: A CONCEPT THAT WORKS

S E C R E T MANILA 004378 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, S/CT, INL/AAE, AND EAP/MTS USPACOM ALSO FOR FPA HUSO SECDEF/OSD/ISA/AP (LAWLESS/TOOLAN/BAILEY) JOINT STAFF/J5 (WILKES/ROBINSON/CLEMMONS) E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2016 TAGS: PREL PINS PTER MOPS KCRM RP SUBJECT: FORWARD DEPLOYING THE FBI: A CONCEPT THAT WORKS REF: MANILA 3915 Classified By: (U) Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. The trial initiative to embed two FBI agents with Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines is nearing the end of its first 90-days. The concept works. We ask the Department to convey our appreciation to the FBI for its support and to urge that the program be continued. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. ¶2. (S/REL AUS) FBI Agents Howard and Tavernier are nearing the end of their 90-day deployment with Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) at Camp Navarro, Zamboanga (southern Philippines). They have made a significant contribution to Mission counterterrorism efforts. They examined and exploited for U.S. law enforcement purposes material seized during a September 4 raid by Philippine security forces on an Abu Sayyaf safe house in Jolo City and backpacks recovered after a September 6 encounter between Abu Sayyaf Group elements and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) units. The September 4 material included an apparent kidnap "contract" among senior Abu Sayyaf leaders, as well as organizational data, bank account information, and cell phone numbers. The contract has been forwarded to the FBI Crime Laboratory in Washington for analysis and additional exploitation. ¶3. (C/REL AUS) Howard and Tavernier are also working to improve the AFP's and Philippine National Police's sensitive site exploitation. They are helping to develop new procedures for securing sites and evidence handling, and are coordinating with Post's Senior Law Enforcement Advisor on additional INL training on these procedures and evidence storage. ¶4. (C/REL AUS) State Prosecutor Ricardo Caberon in Zamboanga is the Philippines' most able and aggressive terrorism prosecutor. Howard and Tavernier are reviewing with him cases that might merit U.S. prosecution, as well as working to develop an analytical data base on Abu Sayyaf operations to help current and future investigations. Their overall goal is to improve the ability of Philippine counterparts to support U.S. law enforcement efforts. ¶5. (C/REL AUS) Howard and Tavernier have also made significant progress in developing cases targeting the Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist leadership and their networks. Their further presence, and that of future agents, will aid in readying these cases for potential indictments. ¶6. (SBU) FBI deployment with JSOTF-P is an innovative concept that puts U.S. law enforcement officers where they need to be to collect vital evidence on terrorists who target U.S. interests. We urge that this program be continued. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm KENNEY