BOC-Cebu officers join US-organized training

CEBU, Philippines —  The Bureau of Customs-Port of Cebu has recently participated in the International Seaport Interdiction Training organized by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

BOC-Port of Cebu District Collector Charlito Martin R. Mendoza welcomed the US delegation and participants and emphasized the need to constantly update, review, and improve operations through international knowledge sharing and capacity building.

“To do our job well, we need all the help we can get,” said Mendoza, adding that with this training, they are getting one of the world’s best.

“So we keep in mind the big questions—How can I use this knowledge to tighten border control? How can I use this tool to improve how we do our jobs? How can we apply these global best practices in our local situations so that we can be the best Philippine Customs and border officers we can be? So that we can tighten national security and as the combined border security force of our country be of contribution to the global security efforts against illicit trade, weapons of mass destruction, and contrabands that threaten us all. Because ultimately, we are in this together,” said Mendoza in his speech.

According to the bureau in its Facebook post that this theoretical training covered discussions on open-source targeting, behavioral analysis, imposter detection, analysis of travel and cargo documents, examination of vessels, containers and seals, seaport safety, post-seizure analysis, weapons of mass effect, and human trafficking and forced labor.

“To fully integrate the knowledge gained in classroom discussions, the participants underwent practical exercises on examination of cargo containers at the Cebu International Port,” it said.

The Bureau’s top intelligence and enforcement officers joined the high ranks of the Bureau of Immigration, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Cebu Port Authority in a week-long theoretical and practical interdiction program.

CBP Attaché Pete R. Acosta and Regional Advisor Ransom J. Avilla of the US Department of State-Export Control and Border Security Program led the training together with speakers Gerard Bradley, Mabel Peña, and Imtiaz Ishahak.

The Bureau’s partnership with the US Embassy is part of the accelerated institutional transformation and good governance programs of the bureau under the leadership of BOC Commissioner Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero to raise the country’s border security capabilities to global standards. — GMR (FREEMAN)