PH, Canadian Law Enforcement Agencies Sign Pact on Protection of Children and Youth Against Sexual Abuse
National Bureau of Investigation Director Dante Gierran (left photo) and Police Major General Elmo Francis Sarona (right photo) signed agreements with Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Director General Marie-Claude Arsenault. (DFA photo)
MANILA 07 August 2019 — The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) signed separate agreements with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on the protection of children and youth against sexual abuse.
The agreements were signed through the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa to further enhance cooperation between the Philippines and Canada in preventing and fighting crimes against children, protecting child victims and addressing the issue of the entry of sex offenders to the Philippines or Canada.
NBI Director Dante Gierran and RCMP Director General for Sensitive and Specialized Investigative Services Chief Superintendent Marie-Claude Arsenault signed the “Arrangement on Cooperation for the Protection of Children and Youth against Sexual Abuse” on 23 July 2019 at the NBI Headquarters in Manila.
On the other hand, PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management Police Major General Elmo Francis Sarona and Director General Arsenault signed the “Memorandum of Understanding for the Protection of Children and Youth against Sexual Abuse” on 24 July 2019 in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
The signing of the agreements formed part of the visit to Manila of Director General Arsenault and RCMP Liaison Officer Jay Schooley to the Philippines from 22 to 26 July 2019.
The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, the NBI-Anti Human Trafficking Division, and the Bureau of Immigration-Traffic Control Enforcement Unit also met on separate occasions with the RCMP Delegation to find ways to deepen cooperation and share best practices in combating sexual abuse in children.
The RCMP Delegation also visited the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center (PICACC) in Camp Crame, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development Sanctuary Center in Mandaluyong City during their stay in Manila. END
Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morante received the RCMP Delegation. From left: Supervisor Celine Blessilda Valencia, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Legal Office Head Arvin Santos, Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of American Affairs (DFA-OAA) Canada Division Director Mary Luck Hicarte, Philippine Embassy in Ottawa Deputy Chief of Mission Francisco Noel Fernandez, RCMP Director General Arsenault with RCMP Liaison Officer Jay Schooley, and NBI Agent Kirk Matthew Pedro. (DFA photo)
Police Colonel Narciso B. Verdadero (fifth from right) of the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Center welcomed the RCMP Delegation. From left: Police Captain Michelle Morada, Police Major Raul Bolido, Police Major Michael Virtudazo, DFA-OAA Director Hicarte, Deputy Chief of Mission Fernandez, RCMP Liaison Officer Schooley, RCMP Director General Arsenault, PC Sofronio Bumalay, PLtCol. Herlyn Kristine Lazaro, PLtCol. Noel Albay, and PMaj. Eric Ortega. (DFA photo)
Participants of the Meeting on Anti-Human Trafficking Measures. (seated from left) Deputy Chief of Mission Fernandez, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Officer in Charge Atty. Rudiger Falcis II, RCMP Director General Arsenault, RCMP Liaison Officer Schooley, and DFA-OAA Executive Director Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon, Jr., (Back from left) DFA-Office fo the Undersecretary for Migrant Worker’s Affairs Principal Assistant Rowell G. Casaclang, DFA-OAA Director Hicarte, Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Division Chief Ivy Miravalles, NBI Anti-Human Trafficking Division Chief Atty. Janet Francisco, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Project Development Officer Sheryl Calmada and DSWD Child and Youth Unit Head Christian Bioc. (DFA photo)