THE US government provided specialized training to the Philippine Department of Justice (DoJ) prosecutors to “enhance their expertise in handling environmental crimes.”
According to the US Embassy in Manila, the training, which was facilitated by experts from the United States Agency for International Development (USAid), was held in Pampanga and Bataan from Oct. 15 to 18. It was part of the US agency’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans and Landscapes (Sibol) project.
During the event, the participants underwent mock court proceedings involving actual expert witnesses and environmental law enforcement officers, as well as crime scene investigation simulations within Bataan Natural Park. The exercises enhanced the state prosecutors’ knowledge about crime scene investigation, evidence handling and case building.
A simulation of illegal logging as part of the mock crime scene investigation exercise. PHOTO FROM THE US EMBASSY
Attended by at least 24 DoJ prosecutors, “the training ensures that strong evidence is collected before cases are filed, increasing the chances of successful convictions and strengthening the DoJ’s efforts to effectively safeguard protected areas under Philippine law,” the embassy said.
DoJ Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel Decena-Valdez said that the department wants its prosecutors to “live by the principles of environmental leadership” in addition to acquiring skills in investigating and prosecuting cases.
Thomas Kaluzny, USAid Philippines’ Environment Office deputy director, noted that the Sibol project improved the DoJ state prosecutors’ capacity to tackle environmental crimes through practical, hands-on training.
To date, the USAid has trained 209 prosecutors in environmental law enforcement and assisted the DoJ in developing additional courses on illegal wildlife trade, forestry and fisheries since 2022.
“Through the Sibol project, USAid works with partners from the Philippine government, private sector and civil society to strengthen science-based decision-making and address threats to biodiversity created by unsustainable practices, irresponsible tourism and environmental crimes,” the embassy said.
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