U.S.

Trains Office of the Ombudsman Investigators and Prosecutors on

Cyber Investigations and Digital Evidence

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Law and Ombudsman Samuel Martires (middle,
seated) joined U.S. Embassy and U.S. Department of Justice officials and Office of the
Ombudsman officials at the training.

Manila, April 11, 2019 — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, through the U.S. Department of Justice
(U.S. DOJ) Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT),
coordinated with the Office of the Ombudsman to train 35 anti-graft investigators and prosecutors on
cyber investigations and digital evidence from March 27 to 28.

The training covered the Rule on Cybercrime Warrants, digital media privacy, and digital forensics
tools. Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen delivered an in-depth talk on Privacy in Digital
Media, and USDOJ Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) Cybercrime Laboratory
Director Ovie Carroll and Senior Digital Investigative Analyst Dan Ogden led a hands-on training on
digital forensic tools using CCIPS training laptops that U.S. DOJ brought to the Philippines for the
training. Participants learned firsthand how to preserve digital evidence from computers and mobile
devices, conduct basic digital analysis, and effectively present digital evidence in court.

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission John Law opened the training by recognizing the Office of the
Ombudsman as a strong partner and praising the office’s efforts to improve investigative and
Information Office: (632) 301-2000 ext. 2363 or 2505 Fax: (632) 301-2468 Email: mnlinfooffice@state.gov
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prosecutorial skills, including with training on digital forensics. He explained that “the computer age has
changed the way many crimes occur, including public corruption. It is now often the case that
communications are by e-mail, text, or social networking. Key documents, financial records, and other
information may only exist in cyberspace”

Deputy Ombusman for Visayas Paul Elmer Clemente said, “Fighting corruption in the digital age
demands new tools. Corrupt public officials take advantage of new technologies and stringent privacy
law to hide their illicit activities. The anti-cybercrime training provided by OPDAT has opened to
Ombudsman investigators and prosecutors a digital toolbox that may be utilized in ensuring the
successful detection, investigation and prosecution of public corruption in the digital realm.”

This training is the first of a planned series to train and arm investigators and prosecutors to effectively
counter public corruption using digital forensics. It is part of the U.S. Embassy’s effort, through
OPDAT, to provide training for judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, and government agencies in order
to enhance Philippine justice sector capabilities to combat transnational crimes.

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