MANILA -- On Tuesday, the United States government donated three evidence containers, valued at Php 1.6 million ($30,700), to strengthen the capacity of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) to properly retain confiscated contraband and evidence presented in the prosecution of wildlife traffickers and persons engaging in environmental crime.
The equipment handover at the PCSD headquarters in Puerto Princesa City was led by visiting U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Lisa Johnson.
“INL is strongly committed to doing everything it can to disrupt the criminal networks behind wildlife trafficking. Building our partners’ capacity to investigate and prosecute environmental crimes is a priority for the U.S. government,” said Johnson at the turnover ceremony.
PCSD Executive Director Niño Rey Estoya thanked the U.S. government for its continued support, noting the donation would be critical in ensuring that cases PCSD teams investigate and prosecute over several months are not dismissed for technical reasons. The secured storage units are expected to improve the PCSD’s adherence to chain of custody requirements, making evidence more likely to be admissible in court.
