US trains Philippines personnel vs hazardous materials trafficking

MANILA, Philippines — Experts from the United States have trained key personnel from several Philippine agencies in countering trafficking of hazardous materials at seaports and in responding effectively to maritime security incidents.

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) International Counterproliferation Program hosted the training in countering maritime trafficking of hazardous chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) materials from March 24 to 28.

During the Targeting and Risk Management Workshop held in Manila, DTRA experts and Filipino facilitators from the Philippine Office for Transportation Security (OTS) trained 35 Filipinos in identifying, targeting and interdicting illicit vessels and cargoes that traffic hazardous components of weapons of mass destruction.

The program also included “train-the-trainer” activities aimed at sustaining the agencies’ efforts at identifying maritime security operational and doctrinal gaps.

Participants included representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry’s Strategic Trade Management Office, Department of Transportation’s OTS, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy and Philippine National Police Maritime Group.

Director Jose Embang Jr. of the Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Council Program Management Center (ATC-PMC) thanked DTRA for helping the Philippines refine its tracking methods and response procedures for potentially hazardous unauthorized materials discovered at seaports. 

He added that these efforts contribute to national and global security.

“We value our longstanding partnership with ATC-PMC and their unwavering efforts to strengthen Philippine CBRN policy and legislation. We anticipate continued engagement with ATC-PMC, the National Maritime Center and the Philippine interagency in support of initiatives that reinforce the ironclad commitment between our two countries,” said Nicholas DeDominici, chief of DTRA at the US embassy in Manila.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino yesterday called for greater vigilance amid China’s apparent deployment of drones to study the Philippine seabed and map its underwater terrain.

“If you find a drone, don’t tinker with it, don’t sell it or keep it as a souvenir. It is important to immediately notify and turn it over to your local government or police authorities,” Tolentino said, stressing that the Chinese might be using those drones to gather critical data for scientific, commercial or military use.

Tolentino made the call following the announcement by the Armed Forces of the Philippines of the results of forensic tests on several submersible drones recovered from different parts of the country in recent months.

“The forensic results affirm the initial findings of our Senate probe that this is a national security concern,” said Tolentino, who led a Senate inquiry last January on the discovery by fishermen of a submersible drone in San Pascual, Masbate.

“The development should further bolster our efforts to protect the West Philippine Sea and to continue to assert through legal and diplomatic means our sovereign rights over our exclusive economic zones and resources,” he said.

“I also call for greater public vigilance. The government derives its strength from the unity of the people. We can serve our country’s interests by promptly reporting any suspicious equipment or activities we may come across, especially in our coastlines,” he added. Tolentino chairs the Senate special committee on maritime and admiralty zones.

He cited the case of three Masbate fishermen – Jojo Cantela, Rodnie Valenzuela and Jeric Arojado – who reported finding a drone floating in their municipal waters on Dec. 30 last year. The three received a commendation from the Senate for their courage, vigilance and nationalism. –  Cecille Suerte Felipe