DND, DFA Conduct Workshop on “DarkNet” and Prevention of Violent Extremism

Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana (seventh from left), together with officials from the Department of National Defense and the Department of Foreign Affairs, and resource speakers from UNESCO, INTERPOL and the International Commission on Cybercrime Law.

02 March 2018 CAMP AGUINALDO — The Department of National Defense (DND), in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, conducted a workshop "Dealing with the DarkNet: Measures to Prevent Violent Extremism" on 27 February 2018.

The workshop’s participants represented various Philippine government agencies, non-governmental organizations, international agencies including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Information for All Programme Intergovernmental Council, and Interpol.

“Because of the global nature of cybercrimes, no single nation can fight this alone. As cybercrimes increase, we must show our commitment to come up with more efficient and effective security measures to address this grave threat to our collective security,” said Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana in his welcome remarks.

Secretary Lorenzana expressed confidence that the overall quality of cybersecurity in the country can be raised and the Philippines can contribute to regional and international efforts to build a safer and more secure cyberspace by investing in our people, capabilities and international networks and cooperation.

On behalf of Philippine Ambassador Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, Permanent Delegate of the Philippines to UNESCO, Mr. Alex Lamadrid, Senior Special Assistant for Civilian Security and Consular Concerns, shared that the idea of the workshop sprouted when Philippine national and local authorities were confronted with the situation in Marawi.

He added that through this workshop, the Philippine military, law enforcement, and other key national stakeholders will be able to fully grasp the realities of the DarkNet, with the objective of developing comprehensive policy and program responses and interventions to address such threats to our national security, peace and development.

The workshop is in consonance with the meeting between Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay held on 28 March 2018 in Paris, France where the cooperation on prevention of violent extremism (PVE) through education, media literacy and protection of cultural heritage was discussed.

As a follow up to the workshop, development of an interagency action plan is envisioned to address the DarkNet and prevent violent extremism from spreading in the Philippines.

The Philippines is an active member of the Friends of PVE in UNESCO and the UNESCO Executive Board. END

Participants from Philippine government agencies and non-government organizations listen intently during the Workshop