U.S.

and Philippines Arms Prosecutors and Investigators Against Online

Sexual Exploitation of Children

Seated in the middle from left to right, IJM Director of Legal Interventions Lawrence Aritao, IJM
Manila Field Office Director Reynado Bicol, DOJ Assistant Secretary George Ortha II, US
Embassy Ambassador Sung Kim, USDOJ OPDAT Resident Legal Advisor David Bragdon USDOJ
OPDAT Technical Advisor Felix Camerino with the 60 participating prosecutors and investigators

Davao City, June 20, 2019 — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, through the U.S. Department of
Justice (USDOJ) Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT),
partnered with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and International Justice Mission
(IJM) to train 60 prosecutors and investigators on combatting online sexual exploitation of children
(OSEC) from June 17 to 20.

In the opening, US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim explained that sexual abuse of children is
not a new problem but its international nature and ease of commission through the internet is. That
catching criminals, rescuing victims and stopping the crime are top priorities for Americans and
Filipinos alike. Ambassador Kim deduced that the effort requires advanced skills, international
cooperation and the dedication of the hard-working law enforcement and judicial professionals. He also
notes that alumni of these programs have obtained more than twenty-eight convictions in OSEC cases in
the last year.

Davao Region Deputy Regional Prosecutor Barbara Mae Pagdilao-Flores expressed that the growing
number of OSEC cases and the rapid advancement of technology that facilitates this kind of crime, calls
for government to continue arming law enforcers and prosecutors with the necessary knowledge and
skills to combat this reprehensible crime. Prosecutor Pagdilao-Flores posits that “a coordinated criminal

Information Office: (632) 301-2000 ext. 2363 or 2505 Fax: (632) 301-2468 Email: mnlinfooffice@state.gov
Web: https://ph.usembassy.gov/

   
justice response system among different stakeholders is essential to effectively implement the laws
meant to address the crime.” She concludes that the collaboration of the Philippine Department of
Justice, US Department of Justice Office of the Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and
Training, and NGO International Justice Mission, is a perfect example of that coordinated response
system.

The training combined lectures, in-depth discussions, and practical exercises led by experts who covered
the laws, provided case studies, and practical insights from actual prosecutions and shared best practices.
Among the experts include Digital Freedom Network Attorney JJ Disini who discussed the pertinent
laws on digital evidence. US Embassy Homeland Security Investigations Deputy Attaché Chad Worgen
and, from the US Department of Justice, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in
Washington DC, Trial Attorney Kaylynn Shoop and Digital Investigative Analyst Joshua Storey shared
US best practices on investigation, digital forensic analysis and prosecution while OPDAT Resident
Legal Advisor David Bragdon presented on and served as a resource on international cooperation. US-
based lawyer Seth Thomas, drawing from his recent IJM Philippines legal fellowship, crafted a realistic
practical exercise for prosecutors while OPDAT Technical Advisor Felix Camerino drew from on-going
OPDAT-sponsored case build-up trainings to organize and facilitate the same for investigators.

This training is part of an on-going series to train and arm investigators and prosecutors nationwide to
effectively prove OSEC. It is part of the U.S. Embassy’s effort, through OPDAT, to enhance Justice
Sector capabilities through training for judges, prosecutors, law enforcers and other government
agencies on combatting various transnational crimes. In June 26-27, 2019, OPDAT, in partnership with
the Philippine Supreme Court’s Sub-Committee on Commercial Courts and the Philippine Judicial
Academy, will conduct the next in the series of cybercrime training for judges.

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