PNP, FBI working to develop crime database

The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are working to develop a fingerprint database to strengthen international cooperation against transnational terrorist and organized crime groups.

"The PNP welcomes every opportunity to explore other areas of cooperation with the international law enforcement community in terms of information exchange, cross-training, capacity-building, and technical assistance," said PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao.

Lomibao said the fingerprint database was among the highlights of his official visit to Washington, DC last week on the invitation of FBI Director Robert Muller as a gesture of goodwill following the visit of FBI Deputy Director John Pistole in Manila last March.

At FBI headquarters, Lomibao and Pistole discussed, among other things, the emerging security threats from organized crime and transnational terrorism in the Asia-Pacific region.

Pistole expressed Mueller’s gratitude to the PNP for providing an additional 26,000 files into the fingerprint database as he offered the FBI’s technical assistance to the PNP.

PNP and FBI officials also discussed prospects for better cooperation in terms of training, information sharing and intelligence exchange regarding transnational terrorist and criminal organizations.

The FBI has been accommodating PNP personnel in its regular training sessions at the FBI National Academy and in its training programs in the Asia-Pacific.

Also present during the meeting were Chris Swecker, assistant director of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, and MichaelWelsh, chief of international operations in the Asia Region.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said international cooperation has resulted in significant accomplishments for the Philippine law enforcement community against domestic crime, transnational crime and terrorism.

"We have made headway with some technical capability made available to us over the years, but we still find the urgent need to keep pace with technology and cope with the growing sophistication of organized crime and transnational terrorism," he said.

"As we anticipate the passage of our own Anti-Terrorism Law very soon, our projection of increased operational activity requires complementary technical capability and readiness to cope with the challenges ahead."