About 63 participants from select foreign-service posts, Department of Foreign Affairs home office, Foreign Service Institute and other government intelligence agencies such as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the National Security Council, Philippine National Police and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines complete the course.
THE Foreign Service Institute (FSI) conducted the Training Course on Counterterrorism for Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) in the Department of Foreign Affairs’ home office, embassies and consulates general from December 9 to 13, 2019.
The course was organized by FSI through the training services offered by the Global Risk Mitigation Foundation (GRMF), a nonprofit organization based in Honolulu focused on the development of holistic, comprehensive risk assessments and innovative education-based solutions.
The training course is one of the innovations being introduced by FSI to elevate the quality and breadth of its modules by focusing on specialized areas highly relevant to the work of foreign service personnel as it taps the expertise of resource persons from other countries.
THE Foreign Service Institute (FSI) conducted the Training Course on Counterterrorism for Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) in the Department of Foreign Affairs’ home office, embassies and consulates general from December 9 to 13, 2019.
The course was organized by FSI through the training services offered by the Global Risk Mitigation Foundation (GRMF), a nonprofit organization based in Honolulu focused on the development of holistic, comprehensive risk assessments and innovative education-based solutions.
The training course is one of the innovations being introduced by FSI to elevate the quality and breadth of its modules by focusing on specialized areas highly relevant to the work of foreign service personnel as it taps the expertise of resource persons from other countries.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. expresses confidence that the training course could further enhance the Philippines’s counterterrorism efforts through its diplomats.
The objective of the course was to sensitize diplomats to the extremists’ interpretation of Islamic history and the events that serve as the basis for their thoughts and actions. It, likewise, aimed to demonstrate with clarity and demystify the ideological differences between devout fundamentalists and violent extremists.
Said course also provided diplomats not only the knowledge to better appreciate the historical and ideological roots of extremist groups, but also the analytical tools to help identify potential national security threats to the Philippines.
International, local experts
THE course ran under the guidance of three resource persons who provided lectures and facilitated discussions during the five-day training course: former Federal Bureau of Investigation Chief Counterterrorism Center instructor Kim Jensen, retired FBI Special Agent Ripley McGuinn and retired Philippine National Police officer Gen. David Ombao.
Jensen was the legal liaison officer for the governments of Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon during his tenure with the FBI. He was instrumental in developing the highly successful United States counterterrorism response that paralleled the techniques deployed against extremists by the governments of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
McGuinn has gained significant depth and experience working on counterterrorism measures with his career particularly focused on efforts to counter violent extremism in Southeast Asia. He is a recognized subject-matter expert on the Abu Sayyaf Group, and has worked, as well as conducted investigations about the ASG since its inception.
Retired General Ombao has acquired an extensive experience in terrorism prevention in the Philippines and international counterterrorism activity coordination, including with the FBI. He is a native of Mindanao who has spent many years investigating money laundering and terrorist-financing activities.
The objective of the course was to sensitize diplomats to the extremists’ interpretation of Islamic history and the events that serve as the basis for their thoughts and actions. It, likewise, aimed to demonstrate with clarity and demystify the ideological differences between devout fundamentalists and violent extremists.
Said course also provided diplomats not only the knowledge to better appreciate the historical and ideological roots of extremist groups, but also the analytical tools to help identify potential national security threats to the Philippines.
International, local experts
THE course ran under the guidance of three resource persons who provided lectures and facilitated discussions during the five-day training course: former Federal Bureau of Investigation Chief Counterterrorism Center instructor Kim Jensen, retired FBI Special Agent Ripley McGuinn and retired Philippine National Police officer Gen. David Ombao.
Jensen was the legal liaison officer for the governments of Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon during his tenure with the FBI. He was instrumental in developing the highly successful United States counterterrorism response that paralleled the techniques deployed against extremists by the governments of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
McGuinn has gained significant depth and experience working on counterterrorism measures with his career particularly focused on efforts to counter violent extremism in Southeast Asia. He is a recognized subject-matter expert on the Abu Sayyaf Group, and has worked, as well as conducted investigations about the ASG since its inception.
Retired General Ombao has acquired an extensive experience in terrorism prevention in the Philippines and international counterterrorism activity coordination, including with the FBI. He is a native of Mindanao who has spent many years investigating money laundering and terrorist-financing activities.
Adding value, depth
ACCORDING to FSI Officer in Charge Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, the course can potentially add value to the work of FSOs through basic knowledge, skills and new perspectives that will enable them to better evaluate visa applications at posts, revisit the Philippines’s visa policy vis-à-vis national security and economic considerations, and become more attuned to political and security developments at post.
Vinzon-Balatbat said the training course adds depth to the FSO’s political reports and enrich their interaction with host government officials, including those from intelligence agencies.
The course was, likewise, attended by new FSOs and more experienced officers directly responsible for analyzing political matters, including counterterrorism issues. Attendees assess the impact on the Philippines of political developments abroad, as well as submit policy recommendations on political and visa-related issues.
Representatives of other government intelligence and security agencies also participated in the course that, in the process, not only enhanced their expertise in counterterrorism, but also strengthened the linkages and networking between Filipino diplomats and their intelligence counterparts in the Philippine government. DFA
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