AUSTRALIAN, PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENTS BOOST CAPACITY TO TRACK DOWN TERRORISTS
Australian Ambassador Tony Hely and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director-General Oscar Calderon formally opened the Forensics Explosives Laboratory in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on 1 February, boosting the Philippine Government’s ability to track down terrorists. The A$1 million (Php39 million)Laboratory was built with the support of the Australian Government under its A$10 million plus bilateral counter-terrorism assistance package. The Laboratory houses state-of-the-art equipment that can test explosive residue and provide investigators of bombings with timely results. A number of Philippine law enforcement personnel have been sponsored to undertake training in Australia on the use of the equipment. Ambassador Hely said the opening of the crime laboratory would greatly assist the Philippine law enforcement community in their efforts to fight the global threat of terrorism.