US, PH beef up partnership vs. terrorism, transnational crimes

“To effectively wage the global war against terrorism, we need to adopt a multi-faceted and a multi-pronged approach,” Aguirre said in a statement Sunday. (PCOO Photo)

MANILA — The Philippines and United States have intensified their partnership in combatting terrorism and transnational organized crime.

This, as Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and US Undersecretary for Intelligence and Analysis David Glawe of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) met to discuss mutual ways on how to deal with these threats.

“To effectively wage the global war against terrorism, we need to adopt a multi-faceted and a multi-pronged approach,” Aguirre said in a statement Sunday.

During the meeting, the Secretary said he discussed with Glawe matters of mutual interest and continued cooperation in the areas related to counter-terrorism efforts beneficial to both Manila and Washington.

“The meeting with Undersecretary Glawe is a positive step towards that direction,” he assured.

The discussions covered advanced passenger information/ name record, enhanced information sharing, sharing of watch lists/access to databases, biometric screening, fraudulent document training, and increased capability for internet/social media monitoring.

Aguirre noted both parties expressed their respective commitments to foster closer ties and to explore other areas of possible collaboration in the future.

“This will require us to work closely with our allies and to maintain good working relations with them as we share knowledge and resources for the eradication of a borderless menace,” he explained.

For its part, the US Embassy said their conversation reaffirmed the joint efforts to combat child exploitation, secure global aviation against terrorism threats, as well as identify and interdict criminals and contraband crossing the borders.

Also present during the meeting were Justice Undersecretary Erickson Balmes and Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente as well as other members of the DHS delegation.