PHILIPPINES: COUNTERING TERRORIST USE OF THE

UNCLAS MANILA 001980 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR S/CT, EAP/MTS, EAP/RSP, DS/ATA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CT PGOV PREL PTER RP SUBJECT: PHILIPPINES: COUNTERING TERRORIST USE OF THE INTERNET REF: STATE 82980 ¶1. (SBU) Following consultation with post's Law Enforcement Working Group (LEWG),post has no objection to S/CT's proposed "countering terrorist use of the internet" training program, to be implemented by DS/ATA with FY 2008 regional NADR funds. ¶2. (SBU) We suggest that the order of the program's three parts could be reversed to good advantage, so that the opening segment envisioned as a "Regional Policy Level Workshop" would allow senior-level policymakers an opportunity for buy-in and the establishment of priorities. Secondly, while there is significant Internet use in the Philippines, we suggest that the program should also address cellphone SMS text messaging, which is in far more common use here than Internet-based E-mail. Lastly, in our view, shortening the proposed program (from its presently-envisioned 12 working days) would facilitate broader participation by higher-level interlocutors with always-tight schedules. Visit Embassy Manila's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/manila/index. cfm You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/ KENNEY