Judges, prosecutors undergo cybercrime training in Cebu

FILE: DOJ Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said the International Workshop On Judicial Training Strategies On Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence, which is being held in Cebu City, began on Tuesday and would end on Thursday. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has conducted three day training for both judges and prosecutors in keeping up against the growing threat of cybercrimes.

DOJ Undersecretary Erickson Balmes said the International Workshop On Judicial Training Strategies On Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence, which is being held in Cebu City, began on Tuesday and would end on Thursday.

“The workshop aims to equip judges, magistrates, and prosecutors with relevant knowledge to fulfill their roles effectively to keep up with the ever increasing challenges posed by the rise of crimes committed by, through, or with the use of computer systems,” Balmes said in a statement.

The event was organized by the DOJ-Office of Cybercrime (OOC) in partnership with the Council of Europe and the European Union under Global Action on Cybercrime Extended (GLACY+) Project.

“The event is set to provide an opportunity to discuss judicial training programs and identify international best practices, key principles to design, implement, develop and assess training strategies on cybercrime and electronic evidence,” he said.

”By the end of the three-day event, it is expected that participants will enhance knowledge on how to build, enact and assess an effective and sustainable judicial training strategy on cybercrime and electronic evidence; identify key requirements, challenges and best practices in the implementation of capacity building programs dedicated to judges, magistrates and prosecutors; and provide inputs and contribute to further developing the existing judicial training programs available,” Balmes noted.

Those participating in the event include representatives of judicial authorities, prosecution service, and relevant training academies and judicial institutions from the member-countries of the Global Action on Cybercrime Extended (GLACY+) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Apart from the Philippines, participating countries include Brunei, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Mauritius, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Senegal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Tonga. (PNA)