MANILA — The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the US-based National White Collar Crime Center begin training Filipino law enforcement agents on advanced digital forensics at the National Cybercrime Hub in Taguig.

CICC Executive Director Usec. Alexander Ramos said he got the services of American cybercrime experts because there is an urgent need for Filipino agents to be trained and be oriented on various issues in the field of cybercrime.

“Ano ba tamang standard of seizure of physical and evidence na electronic? Nakalimutan na ata ng karamihan how to conduct this. Meron tayo muna it’s like refresher course basic data recovery and incident response,” Ramos said.

He added trainees will also learn the proper way to gather evidence online. “How do you search a cellphone? How do you track using online, how do you find the evidence there? How do you conduct investigation online?”

Ramos added that this will also legitimate and certify agents as cybercrime experts because this has been one problem my conviction rate in cybercrimes are low.

“Lagi na bring up sa akin ng kapulisan, ‘sir may problema kami pagpupunta sa korte na chachallenge aming expertise’… Unang question pa lang nga lawyer ng may kaso ‘ikaw ba may expertise?’ That alone is a challenge to law enforcement,” he said.

He hopes that with the training from experts, investigators can post an increase in the total apprehensions of cybercriminals.

About 50 agents from CICC, Philippine National Police Anti Cybercrime Group and other government agents are attending the week-long training. CICC said there will be more trainings in the future as Ramos also urged the National White Collar Crime Center to make Manila a regional hub.