US embassy cable - 05MANILA1597

UNCLAS MANILA 001597 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/PMBS, INL/AAE FOR KAPOYOS AND ED FLOOD 
JIATF-WEST FOR DEA, ICE, AND FBI LIAISON 
DEA HQ FOR OFF/EDWARD KNOTH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, SNAR, KCRM, MARR, MASS, PGOV, RP 
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR JIATF-WEST SUPPORT FOR DEA TRAINING 
 
1.  This is an action request.  Please see paragraph 2. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2.  (U) Action request -- DEA Manila Country Office, with 
support of the Mission's Law Enforcement Working Group, 
requests $5,000 in funding assistance from Joint Interagency 
Task Force-West (JIATF-W) to meet Philippine counter-drug 
training needs.  This training cannot take place without 
JIATF-W assistance. 
 
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BACKGROUND 
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3.  (U) Philippine Congressman Roque Ablan, Chairman of the 
Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs, asked DEA Manila 
Country Office to conduct a three-day seminar for law 
enforcement officials in the Northern Luzon province of 
Ilocos Norte.  JIATF-W assistance (estimated at $5,000) would 
allow one Raid/Tactics Instructor, one Hong Kong-based U.S. 
DEA Intelligence Analyst, one Philippine Drug Enforcement 
Agency (PDEA) instructor, one RP National intelligence 
Coordinating Agency (NICA) Criminality Branch Officer, and 
the U.S. Embassy's Department of Justice Attache to conduct 
training that would enhance the capabilities of local law 
enforcement officers to combat drug trafficking operations in 
the area. 
 
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DETAILS 
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4.  (U)  DEA Manila Country Office,s planned training 
seminars and activities would consist of the following 
program: 
 
Day 1: The target audience for training will be provincial 
law enforcement officials, including "barangay captains" 
(district officers) and local prosecutors.  The presentations 
will consist of an open forum 
providing an overview of drug trafficking in Asia, with 
specific emphasis on the Philippines.  An anticipated 50-100 
students would attend Day 1 training. 
 
Tentative curriculum for Day 1 is: 
Overview of Drug Trafficking in Asia 
Philippine Drug Law 
DEA/PDEA/JIATF-W Joint Initiatives 
Drug Investigations and Prosecutions 
 
Day 2: Training will focus on the Philippine drug problem and 
provide local law enforcement officials with new ideas and 
concepts in drug investigations.  The target audience for Day 
2 will be law enforcement officials with daily duties in drug 
investigations.  40-50 students would attend Day 2 training. 
 
Tentative curriculum for Day 2 is: 
 
Overview of Clandestine Laboratories 
Evidence Collection and Exploitation 
 
Day 3: Training will focus on drug enforcement tactics to 
teach students new ways to execute drug search warrants, 
arrest warrants, and "buy bust" operations.  Attendance will 
be limited to 30 students.  Attendees must be law enforcement 
officers whose daily duties include the execution of search 
and arrest warrants. 
 
Tentative curriculum for Day 3 is: 
 
RAID and Tactics Training 
 
5. (U) Post's point of contact for this request DEA Special 
Agent Rodel Babasa (phone: 011-632-523-1219, e-mail: 
rodel.b.babasa@usdoj.gov).  Post's POC for law enforcement 
policy is Political Officer Dan Ricci (phone: 
011-632-528-6300 x6305, e-mail riccidj@state.gov). 
Mussomeli