Philippines trains prosecutors to combat wildlife crime and money laundering

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has partnered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) for a specialised training programme. The event took place from 12 to 14 May and focused on financial investigations linked to wildlife and forest crimes. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) sponsored the initiative. The training aimed to boost the skills of prosecutors, DENR staff, and law enforcement officers in tackling environmental crimes and related money laundering cases. Sessions covered topics such as wildlife and forest-crime supply chains, financial investigation techniques, and evidence development. Participants also studied money-laundering patterns and asset-recovery methods.

Deputy State Prosecutor Margaret V. Castillo-Padilla led a session titled Building Cases That Win: The DC 20 Framework in Practice – Prosecutor-Guided Investigation. The programme included practical workshops and case-building exercises based on four real environmental crime scenarios. These activities were designed to help attendees trace and develop financial evidence more effectively.

The training aligns with the Philippine government’s efforts to improve its money laundering framework. It also serves as preparation for the 2027 Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) Mutual Evaluation. The DOJ expects the training to enhance the ability of prosecutors and investigators to pursue financial probes tied to environmental crimes. The initiative supports the country’s broader goal of strengthening its financial investigation capacity. This comes as the nation readies itself for the upcoming 2027 APG assessment.