Philippine Coast Guard holds forum on Maritime Law Enforcement and Digital Evidence

On 13 May, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), in cooperation with GIZ, held its first PCG Forum on National Maritime Law Enforcement and Digital Evidence at the City Club, Alpha Suites, Makati. The forum, attended by PCG officials from different offices and commands, is part of the Capacity-building and Digital Evidence Component of the GIZ Project “Support to the Philippine Coast Guard in Securing the Rules-based International Order in the Indo-Pacific Phase II (PCG Phase II).”

In his opening remarks, PCG Deputy Commandant for Operations CG Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr. expressed his gratitude to the Germany Government and Embassy. He emphasized that joint activities with organisations and other countries help increase the capacity and competence of the PCG in the performance of its mandate.

His Excellency Ambassador Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke shared Germany’s interest in the Region, safeguarding peace and security and the international rules-based order, promoting economic relations, promoting sustainable development goals and fighting climate change, and the importance of observing the Rules-based International Order in the Indo-Pacific and how the Project and PCG support this.

Other speakers were Dr. Jesus "Gary" Domingo, Undersecretary for Civilian and Consular Affairs, Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA); Atty. Francis Acero, a Vice President and Data Compliance Officer of Manila Electrical Company (MERALCO) and its subsidiary companies; and Mr. Robert Arnold G Chuidian, Chief, Plans and Policy Branch of the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns. The panel discussions tackled concerns on 1) Understanding Impact of the International and Local Laws, Policies; and the Use of Technology in Maritime Law Enforcement; and 2) Interagency and International cooperation for Maritime Domain Awareness, Maritime Law Enforcement and Maritime Security.

Project Manager Maurizio Noll shared Project upcoming plans and activities, which include the delivery of and training in the use of three (Unmanned Arial Vehicles (UAVs), technical support for Information Security Technologies, UAV doctrine development, and other capacity building activities.

In his closing remarks, CG Capt Eric Ferrancullo, Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for Strategic Studies and Modernization (CG-15), thanked the Federal Foreign office of Germany and GIZ for its continued support to the PCG through the PCGP2 Project.